We just finished up Vacation Bible School at our own church this week and I am both tired and sore. This is the one I volunteer for as well as sending the kids to, and I do not get to escape my own children. Last year I was one of the leader’s in the boys class and this year I ended up with Abigail, and let me tell you they present completely different challenges.
The boys are the boys. They are crazy and wild and love running around, playing, and causing trouble. The problem with their group is it is a large group of a lot of boys and a lot of boys that know each other from either church or pre-school. They have all been together in some form or fashion for the past several years and are used to scheming together and comfortable being around each other.
On the other hand Abigail is a princess, and she is a princess with lots of admirers. She has several little boys that just want to be around her and near her and in some cases she has the same effect on some of the little girls. Abigail can get upset when she isn’t the center of attention and has been known to cause a scene.
This is the one that is strange to me. I never wanted to be the center of attention or have much attention at all. I’d much prefer to stay in the background going along to get along. I am also talking about a time I barely remember. I do remember playing games like red rover in the back yard of Grace Church in Springfield Virginia, but I don’t remember entirely what my personality was like at four years old. In fact I don’t fully recall being four years old.
I enjoyed this week’s Bible School and feel like I learned as much as the kids. I will say the snacks need some work, and I am not entirely sure what to do about it as they are snacks. It isn’t meant to be a full meal, but every day the kids were left wanting, and I am not so sure the same approach as baseball snacks wouldn’t work. Give the kids a fruit option, a veggie option, a salty snack, and a sweet snack everyday, and it might solve the biggest issue of kids not liking the lone option presented.
Those are discussions for next year. I enjoyed it this year and look forward to helping out again in the future.
David Huzzard Writes 