Regrettably for my poor husband, the response was less than enthusiastic. No blatant refusals, just subtle acts of defiance like teenage eye rolls. Which, of course, the younger kids noticed (how could you not?) and therefore decided not to act too excited either.
Younger kids constantly taking cues from the older kids drives me to the brink of insanity.
Next came the activity led by Kirsten, age 16. Having given it zero prior thought, she saw the EZ Roller (coolest toy ever, btw) that Santa had brought Caleb and suggested that the kids take turns racing it around the hardwood floors in our family room -- two laps each -- and she would time the runs and declare a winner.
Kids love the EZ Roller and showed signs of life for the first time since Family Night had begun.
Caleb (6) clocked in at 20.18 seconds. He has been spending the majority of his free time zipping around in the roller, so it wasn't surprising.
Emma (9) clocked in at 25.06 seconds. As soon as she saw her time, she burst into tears, declaring how unfair life is in general and specifically how unfair the EZ Roller is (no, it wasn't a logical argument but so it is with 9-year-olds at times).
Seth (11 at the end of the month) clocked in at 19.66 seconds. He won. No one was surprised. We are all accustomed to him coming out on top when it comes to agility, speed, coordination -- or a combination.
Rob (14) clocked in at 32 seconds. He laughed the entire time he was racing on the roller that wasn't at all adjusted to his height (picture a tall teenage boy trying to ride a tricycle). As he exited the roller and heard his last-place time being called out, he commented, "I'd like to thank my pit crew."
We managed to say a closing prayer.
Rob had the treat. He invited anyone who would like ice cream to come to the kitchen and scoop some up for themselves.
Still distraught over her unjust finish time, Emma was required to retire to her room and reflect on how to react when one is faced with troubling circumstances.
Kirsten passed on the ice cream and ran out the door to attend a basketball game her best friend was playing in.
Seth, Rob and Caleb enjoyed an excessive amount of ice cream.
I didn't mention that I fought back tears when Jeff's lesson was met with quiet resistance. Or that I (practically) yelled at Emma to go to her room and at Rob to come serve the ice cream for Pete's sake. Or that I went to bed that night feeling more than a little disheartened.
So I made myself re-read David A. Bednar's October 2009 talk called, "More Diligent and Concerned at Home." Here's what I was looking for:
In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting. Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls.
The truth is, most of the individual streaks on the canvas of the soul of our family are splotchy and blurry and globby. I sometimes (okay, most of the time) think they are getting less attractive as the kids get older.
But I pray that someday -- if I take lots and lots and lots of steps backwards and look at the finished painting from the distance of perspective and sanity -- I will see that all those brush strokes will have created a beautiful and captivating masterpiece.
Until then, you'll find me painting.
2 comments:
I had forgotten about that talk by Elder Bednar- thank you for reminding me and helping put more of life into perspective. Even our kids had a hard time with the new years resolutions to read every day from the scriptures- and the bishop had just challenged them all to do it. But we continue onward. I think one my future blogs will have to be an account of how FHE happens for us- it will be fun for the kids to read way down the road.
You had FHE with everyone there and participating. Done.
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