We have been HORRIBLE at having Family Home Evening.
(if you are a rock-star at this, please do not comment telling me how horrible I am or how awesome you are. I already feel bad enough about it.)
Each week passes and I feel more and more guilty that we didn't take a few minutes once a week to sit down and have a formal home evening lesson. I have tried in the past, but fail miserably every time. I get overwhelmed with all the ideas out there.
The kids scream and run and play and it is a disaster every time.
But this is how it went last night.
I wanted to talk about who the Prophet and his councilors are. We have been working really hard on this lately. I wanted to look at each picture, tell his name and birth day and other facts about him and then talk about what he talked about in the most recent General Conference. Easy enough right... WRONG. It was a mess and I wanted to cry from the very start.
But then, I had a GENIUS idea that can only be explained by the workings of the spirit...
Put the pictures on the wall tell Kman to run as fast as he can and find the picture of the prophet, then have him bring it back. Then I had him run "as fast as you can" and get the picture of Eyering (the first councilor) and so on. Then we said prayer. Wham bam we were done.
Put the pictures on the wall tell Kman to run as fast as he can and find the picture of the prophet, then have him bring it back. Then I had him run "as fast as you can" and get the picture of Eyering (the first councilor) and so on. Then we said prayer. Wham bam we were done.
He is 3 years old. I cannot expect him to sit through a big long lesson. I need to be more creative and think of things on his level. FHE is not about learning as much as you can in a quick lesson once a week. It is about consistently being together as a family and focusing on gospel topics. Coming together, feeling the spirit, showing my children that I love the gospel etc. I was going about it wrong and that is why I got discouraged and therefore never had Family Home Evening.
My goal is to be more consistent, and SIMPLE with our Family Home Evenings.
10 comments:
Sounds like you've figured out a good plan. That is about how we figured it out when we were at your stage too. And our lessons are still pretty short and to the point 'cuz even though Liberty is 9, Brancyn is still only 3. So basically we have to keep it on the level of the youngest. If we feel the need to go deeper with the older kids we just take the opportunity at other times. Way to go. And just think, as long as your family is growing, you can just keep on planning those little 3-5 minute lessons for many years to come. That is easy enough. You'll have a routine down in not time! Good luck!
*like* :) We need to be better about this too. Thanks for the encouragement!
I think it's safe to say that there are fewer FHE rock stars than there are parents who struggle with making FHE happen consistently. And now you're the rock star! Way to listen to the spirit and make your lesson fun for K-man. I am inspired!
That talk by Bednar made me smile so many times when he gave it!
A couple minutes is best and all that is needed to have it be a success! Do you have the "Behold your Little Ones" manual? Seriously all you need to do is teach a couple minutes of a nursery lesson and you are following the prophet to have FHE. Keep on keeping on! You rock!
You are a rockstar. I am pretty sure everyone struggles to have FHE consistantly. We have done pretty good the last two months or so, but that is only due to my husband remembering, not me. THank you for reminding me to be simple about it, sometimes I too get caught up in the preparing something awesome that I forget what the point of the lesson is and also to make it simple for my not so patient 3 year old.
Brenley
Steve does the FHE pushing in our fam, all the ideas overwhelm me too much as well! So basically we read a scripture story from the Book of Mormon reader (usually the same ones every week... the short one page ones, lol) and then we run around the living room or outside or something. I loved Elder Bednar's talk too, and I think the most important thing to do is let them know that we love them and love spending time with them and enjoy the gospel. I love ya Kristen, you are so amazing!!
What a great idea! I've often wondered how FHE will work in my home someday...when I was a kid we all hated FHE. We had to sit still and listen and it was terribly boring.
It sounds like you are on to something here! I hope it continues to go well for you.
FHE is tough. I agree with Becky, try the Behold Your Little Ones manual. Perfect for K-man's age. I LOVE the one you came up with! That would be so fun! Keep at it, girl!
The problem we had with FHE when the kids were young is they wouldn't hold still.
Solution: DO it in the bathtub. I laminated some bears and the bears learned how to share...how to use their manners....how to go to church reverently. The kids were captivated.
Becky mentioned it above- the new nursery manual rocks. 3 minute lessons that take 3 minutes to prepare. Love it! Naomi (4) loves to help "teach" the lesson to younger Kalea. You're a great momma! I'm so happy we've been able to reconnect!
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