VBS Week

Vacation Bible School Week

Many children consider VBS week to be as delightful as Christmas. Mine are no exception. Excitement has exuded from their pores non-stop, which has both delighted and exhausted Don and me.

We had to choose an evening VBS, rather than a morning, due to Emily's napping pattern. As a result, the boys have been too high to fall asleep anywhere near their regular time, despite our Herculean attempts at efficient time management and time-tested calming techniques. Last night, Timmy's four-year-old body could take it no more. He melted down pitifully, during the bedtime routine.

Mommy: "Timmy, I've asked you to put on your pajamas. Please start undressing."

Timmy, loudly: "I don't care about pajamas! I don't care about teeth! I don't care about Daniel, or Emily, or you, or Daddy! I only care about Jesus! I always only care about Jesus!"

This tirade was followed by tears. In response to this fit, let me just say that I've been a parent for 6.5 years, and around the third year, an important lesson was cemented into my brain. It is as follows: Don't EVER allow your baby, your toddler, or your preschooler to get overtired or overly hungry. If for some reason you can't avoid this, and a meltdown occurs, TRY TO KEEP YOUR TALKING TO A MINIMUM. Don't punish, lecture about, or reward the meltdown. Just get the child to bed or to a meal as quickly as possible.

Of course, Jesus would have a bone to pick with Timmy's philosophy of caring, but that is neither here or there at this point.

Mommy: "Well, Timmy, I agree that being in love with Jesus is really awesome. I will help you put on your pajamas, now."

Timmy responded by jumping in my arms and hugging me tightly, which I chose to take as an apology. He finally fell asleep at (yikes!) 10:00 p.m., and awoke at 7:30 a.m., so tonight promises to be even more trying.

Although grueling for Mom and Dad, these are the weeks that children remember fondly all their lives. Tonight, we'll keep repeating that to ourselves.