I hope I am not the only one. But, this is my weekly experience with family home evening!
"I" plan the lesson, snack, activity etc...
Kids fed, Barry just got home. Grabs his dinner, brings it into the living room turns on his game... Then mutes it and says, "I'm listening, but make it quick cause I have work to do." A for effort, RIGHT??
I start doing the lesson. Kyla gets into something or spills something or starts tackling Zoe or throwing a fit... you name it.
Tommy starts chasing her around.
Barry's eyes are glued to the "muted" TV.
I pause, try and get everyone together again...
Then Start over. Barry swears he's listening :)
The events are repeated again.
I eventually say... I feel like I am reading this to myself, and I already read it today. GRrrrr.
I get through it, with Tommy halfway dangling from the chair, while I try and jam the lesson into his mind.
Everyone eats a snack, then Tommy runs upstairs to enjoy his last 30 min before bed, Kyla does what Kyla does... and Barry resumes the volume on his game and then opens his laptop.
I have 30 minutes to feel DEJECTED before I have to be a sweet mom and put the kids to bed.
I spend it wondering why I even try week after week. But as the week goes by, I get ideas and bam. We try again! 95% of the time with the same result!
What am I doing wrong?
Jane, My Hero
2 weeks ago
5 comments:
I think you are awesome! What a great example you are setting even if your family isn't cooperating.
You're not doing anything wrong. Barry needs to remember that he made commitments to lead that family as the priesthood holder and remember that, for 1/2 hour, he can turn OFF a TV and turn ON the 'father'.
Only for 1/2 hour. I wouldn't expect you to get much help putting them to bed, but at least 1/2 hour.
It takes 2.
I am guilty for trying to do dishes or catch-up in general while the kids eat dinner (because they are occupied). That way we have more family time when they are done eating. The result, kids spilling, falling off their chairs, helping themselves to specilty sauces in the fridge and emptying the bottle on their plate.
I realized that things run smoothly IF I act as I expect them to act. Sitting with them.
Now ... I don't think FHE is easy with a toddler now matter how hard you try BUT you do need both parents there. 100% there. That will help reinforce things.
I'd give a gentle reminder to Barry. Then I'd toss the TV out the window. Muah ha ha.
I admire your dedication. When things get tough, I take a break for a couple months :)
Ha ha - sorry to laugh, but that is oh-so-familiar. Good for you for trying again - I'm not so great at consistent FHE. You always hear the stories about people whose parents made them have FHE for years and they are so grateful now. One day they will thank you. One day...
hey lady your doing a great job-my mom used to do this maybe it would help- shed have us all get in the car to go to our activity- and whoever was teaching the lesson would do it in the car- aka all listening :)- Some of the best discussions i ever had as a kid were in the car- on the way to our "activity" Have you let tommy teach the lesson? I have these awesome kits where they read a one page story and it's numbered with when to ut up a corresponding picture- if you'd like to make copies let me know- I have a lamanite one that you throw rocks at pretty awesome! I know me having to teach as a kid helped me get into fhe- your the woman
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