This week we were down one staff member, due to family obligations. And so, Monday afternoon it fell to me to do a tour of the church sanctuary to some of our second graders. I have bad luck working with second graders; both times I've substitute catechized it's been a disaster. The first time I did it I had to explain the Mass. Of the four kids that came that morning, only one actually went to Mass. The other kids kept putting their foreheads down on their desk because they couldn't follow. Eventually the one student who did attend gave up answering the questions and sat there sullenly. I even tried going off topic and gave them coloring pages but it didn't work.
I'll take on a room full of surly high school football-playing seniors than second graders.
In any case, I had to lead a tour of the sanctuary on Monday evening. So, I looked at script left for me and improvised. It went ok, as they listen very well at that age. We pretended to know where they were supposed to processed.. Then I had to talk on the parts of the Mass. Yeah. I can do that, but at a sixth grade level. It was awkward. I dismissed them 10 minutes early.
Obviously, working with whom I do, speaking to their understanding is my strength, my gift from God. And I am grateful to have that opportunity to use it. I admire those who can work with younger children; it is a skill I currently do not have and will have to develop as my own children grow.
In the meantime I prefer the emotional rollercoaster that is middle school and the moral dilemmas that are high school. I love those ages of youth, with their inquisitiveness and curiosity and to see them finally beginning to flex their faith muscles - what a glorious thing to witness.
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