Sunday, July 13, 2008

About a month ago Beau and I received an email from a staff person from our church who coordinates the volunteers in the childrens classrooms during our weekend services. She said that they really hoped that parents who used the services of the nursery classrooms would consider giving one weekend a month by volunteering to work the classroom that their child enjoys and asked when Beau and/or I would be available to serve.

I emailed her back immediately to let her know that Beau probably would never be able to to help out because of his parking lot duties - he was asked to be the leader of that ministry area and he has accepted that position. This means he’ll be working the parking lots most weekends, including the occasional Saturday night service, too. And I had just been told that I was welcome back to the worship team and waiting to hear back on dates I’d be asked to sing in the next couple of months, but that I’d get back to her when I knew of Sunday mornings that I would be free to help.

Once I told her those dates, she immediately put me on the schedule for a Sunday in July and August for the 11:15am service. Since both are on Sundays that Beau is in the parking lot, we decided to not to attend our usual Saturday evening service, but to just attend the first Sunday am service and then I’d be in the walkers room while Beau tends to the parking lot.

Today was my first morning in the walkers room. Let me say this ... I have great admiration for the people who are called to work with little kids. I’m not one of them. I am at a complete loss how to entertain other people’s kids. And I was ultimately unhappy about the fact that Jesse’s routine was hugely upset by our 4 hours at the church - he got no nap and lunch wasn’t until about 1:30pm. Now there are days at home when he doesn’t get lunch until nearly 2pm, but that’s after a 3 hour nap. By the end of the time he was exhausted, but he won’t snuggle or sit quietly if there’s activity around. As soon as we got him strapped in his car seat, he was asleep. Once home we fed him as fast as we could before he had a meltdown and then put him down for a nap.

On the way home, I suggested that maybe I ask my parents to watch Jesse next time so that he can get his normal morning nap. Beau said it’s silly for the babysitter to need to get a babysitter. He kind of has a point.

Also, how many ministry areas are we expected to help with? At some point, we have to be able to say “No,” right? This is how people get burned out. I got home, ate a quick lunch (after feeding and getting Jesse down for his nap), and then I took a 2 hour nap myself. So I think that I’m going to contact the staff person to let her know that I really can’t help in the walkers room - I’ll do the August date since I’m already scheduled, but no more after that. I’m already involved in four ministry areas - worship team, communion server, small group leader, and food prep for special occasions. Isn’t that enough?