Comments on: Primary and All Manner of Gnats, Flies, and Frogs http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/ Mormon women blogging about the peculiar and the treasured Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:52:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Laura Miller http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-99184 Laura Miller Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:06:34 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-99184 I taught school for 30 years. Six years ago I was finally called to teach in the primary. My children were all married. Grandchildren on the way. I thought I was too old to be here. But the Lord decided that even though I still had 6 years of 8 year olds, it was time. What a blessing this has been. I have now been Primary Pres. for 2 years and I can't tell you how much pleasure it has been to work with 3 competent counselors and sec., wonderful teachers and the children. Even with 4 very special needs children. This is a wonderful stewardship. Go in with the right attitude and be grateful you don't have to teach the 14 year olds. I taught school for 30 years. Six years ago I was finally called to teach in the primary. My children were all married. Grandchildren on the way. I thought I was too old to be here. But the Lord decided that even though I still had 6 years of 8 year olds, it was time. What a blessing this has been. I have now been Primary Pres. for 2 years and I can’t tell you how much pleasure it has been to work with 3 competent counselors and sec., wonderful teachers and the children. Even with 4 very special needs children. This is a wonderful stewardship. Go in with the right attitude and be grateful you don’t have to teach the 14 year olds.

]]> By: Fig http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98596 Fig Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:43:57 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98596 I loved being the Primary pianist - but hated being the chorister. Good for you! [I don't really like kids either.] I loved being the Primary pianist – but hated being the chorister.

Good for you!

[I don't really like kids either.]

]]> By: Sue http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98537 Sue Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:33:41 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98537 Primary pianist is a fun one. The only downside is that you have to be there every week, and I'm a big-time ditcher. Whenever I've had that calling, I've always gotten a big kick out of occasionally ignoring the chorister and playing some of the songs REALLY uptempo, which the kids love. (I'm not so good with the reverence.) But the best calling EVER is primary chorister. Seriously good stuff. Primary pianist is a fun one. The only downside is that you have to be there every week, and I’m a big-time ditcher. Whenever I’ve had that calling, I’ve always gotten a big kick out of occasionally ignoring the chorister and playing some of the songs REALLY uptempo, which the kids love. (I’m not so good with the reverence.)

But the best calling EVER is primary chorister. Seriously good stuff.

]]> By: Maddison http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98514 Maddison Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:01:50 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98514 That's so nice to hear! My very firs calling (new member) was to do Activity Days with the 8-11 yr. olds ~ People would whisper to me in Church that that was their dream calling. I too am not a "kid person" but have learned to find joy in those sorts of things. Congrats! That’s so nice to hear! My very firs calling (new member) was to do Activity Days with the 8-11 yr. olds ~ People would whisper to me in Church that that was their dream calling. I too am not a “kid person” but have learned to find joy in those sorts of things.
Congrats!

]]> By: rebecca http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98477 rebecca Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:28:55 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98477 I have been in primary for what seems to be a lifetime. I know that the songlady and the pianist can make SUCH an impact on how the kids do during that time. YAY for people like you. As for the "I don't like kids thing". I always loved kids, held babies, etc, etc. THen I had my own and now it is pretty much "no thank you". I only like my kids and the children of other people I like. Even if their kids are beasts, I don't mind it if I like the parents. I wonder how much therapy it will take to work THAT one out? I have been in primary for what seems to be a lifetime. I know that the songlady and the pianist can make SUCH an impact on how the kids do during that time. YAY for people like you.

As for the “I don’t like kids thing”. I always loved kids, held babies, etc, etc. THen I had my own and now it is pretty much “no thank you”. I only like my kids and the children of other people I like. Even if their kids are beasts, I don’t mind it if I like the parents.

I wonder how much therapy it will take to work THAT one out?

]]> By: Brooke http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98448 Brooke Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:09:11 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98448 primary pianist is my favorite calling ever too. because also, you don't have to prepare anything! and they only learn like 5 songs all year so you're set! and you get to "hide" behind a piano. primary pianist is my favorite calling ever too. because also, you don’t have to prepare anything! and they only learn like 5 songs all year so you’re set! and you get to “hide” behind a piano.

]]> By: mormonhermitmom http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98417 mormonhermitmom Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:47:09 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98417 Glad you found a calling that works! That makes Sunday a joy. Justine, you can have my job. After two hours of tending someone else's kids, my good days are the days I don't go home from church with a migraine. It doesn't help that my kid is in the nursery too. I love him, but I NEVER get a break from him thanks to my husband's graveyard shift. If I'm in nursery much longer, there will be no adult brain cells left. Glad you found a calling that works! That makes Sunday a joy.
Justine, you can have my job. After two hours of tending someone else’s kids, my good days are the days I don’t go home from church with a migraine. It doesn’t help that my kid is in the nursery too. I love him, but I NEVER get a break from him thanks to my husband’s graveyard shift. If I’m in nursery much longer, there will be no adult brain cells left.

]]> By: eljee http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98387 eljee Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:08:07 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98387 I hate being the primary pianist because there is no challenge in it for me. It bores me. But I would love to be the music leader! That's just about the only calling in Primary I would want. Ash, you story reminds me of a man who came to me for organ lessons. He was the ward organist, and he REALLY struggled with playing. He had a hard time even getting the right notes or correct rhythm, much less sounding good. The Sacrament meeting chorister in his ward was obviously frustrated with the situation, but she took it out on him in some horrible ways--including stopping the hymn in the middle of Sacrament meeting and making everyone start over if he made a mistake. She was downright cruel to him. I wished she could have seen how hard he worked to try to improve. Her attitude was completely un-Christlike, and all it did was demoralize a person who was just trying to be obedient and accept whatever the Lord asked him to do. I hate being the primary pianist because there is no challenge in it for me. It bores me. But I would love to be the music leader! That’s just about the only calling in Primary I would want.

Ash, you story reminds me of a man who came to me for organ lessons. He was the ward organist, and he REALLY struggled with playing. He had a hard time even getting the right notes or correct rhythm, much less sounding good. The Sacrament meeting chorister in his ward was obviously frustrated with the situation, but she took it out on him in some horrible ways–including stopping the hymn in the middle of Sacrament meeting and making everyone start over if he made a mistake. She was downright cruel to him. I wished she could have seen how hard he worked to try to improve. Her attitude was completely un-Christlike, and all it did was demoralize a person who was just trying to be obedient and accept whatever the Lord asked him to do.

]]> By: jendoop http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98362 jendoop Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:08:43 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98362 This time around in primary I'm having fun,mostly. The kids are loving, it's the adults and their expectations that make it difficult. YW is still the best though! This time around in primary I’m having fun,mostly. The kids are loving, it’s the adults and their expectations that make it difficult. YW is still the best though!

]]> By: Julie http://segullah.org/daily-special/primary-and-all-manner-of-gnats-flies-and-frogs/#comment-98315 Julie Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:25:50 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=874#comment-98315 Ah...my husband's dream job, and you got it. (He just got called to be the ward clerk over finances. The irony of that calling with our last name just kills me.) I never thought I'd enjoy Primary either, but then I got put in as the secretary and stayed there for over 5 years (2 different wards, three different presidents). It was a riot! I'm not so sure I'd make it as a Primary teacher, though. Put me in front of the piano or in the back of the room as the secretary and I'm good to go, but put me in a room full of 8 year olds and you may as well just shoot me. Ah…my husband’s dream job, and you got it. (He just got called to be the ward clerk over finances. The irony of that calling with our last name just kills me.)

I never thought I’d enjoy Primary either, but then I got put in as the secretary and stayed there for over 5 years (2 different wards, three different presidents). It was a riot! I’m not so sure I’d make it as a Primary teacher, though. Put me in front of the piano or in the back of the room as the secretary and I’m good to go, but put me in a room full of 8 year olds and you may as well just shoot me.

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