Survival of the Fittest and other church-capades

Today is Sunday. A day of rest. Supposedly. I'm thinking that preparing six children, one husband and myself to attend 3 hours of meetings is not very restful. But that's just me.

Today began like any other Sunday. Church doesn't start until 11 a.m., so we dawdle in the morning. The kids watch cartoons and play the Wii. I get a shower. The baby takes a nap. Just the usual day.

And then we get to church.

For anyone curious, here are the things necessary to survive before we are mercifully allowed to send the children off to their meetings.

1. Bring snacks.

2. Bring a sippy.

3. Bring items of entertainment.

4. Leave all the children at home. Crap, can't do that one.

5. When two-year old throws tantrum, find a quiet corner in the hallway for her to scream.

6. Develop patience. Draw from Heavenly powers. We are at church after all. Shouldn't patience come more naturally?

7. Leave Dad alone with five children and go feed the baby. Plan this strategically so that the baby is hungry smack-dab in the middle of the meeting.

8. Pray.

9. Don't clock-watch. It's too depressing.

10. Books. Lots of books.

After O threw her first tantrum, I hauled her and the baby out in the hallway. We had time-out, then came reverently back in and sat down. She then decided to take off her sweater. Oh, wait. Just kidding. Then another tantrum. Dad's turn. By the time she and Dad returned, E was hungry and cranky.

Needless to say, it was a VERY long meeting today. I determined that I played the church game called how many times can mom leave the meeting.I think I won. I think some days are just better than others.

For all you church-goers out there, it's not impossible to attend with children. It's just harder. (Like just about everything else!) But don't give up, they do grow up eventually. At least that's what I kept telling myself today.