Soloist

We just had the primary program at church.  In our church the kids stay with their family during Sacrament meeting (which is usually a mix of survival and semi-organized chaos on our pew), followed by two hours of primary (kids are ages 3-11).  The first hour they meet with the junior primary (3-7) where someone is assigned a prayer, scripture and talk followed by a teaching activity and singing.

Danny has taught Scott to sing loud so that is what he does.  Tyler is starting to sing at home more.  Today Tyler asked to sing I am a Child of God in the car for a friend.  It was cute.  Tyler is working on staying out of trouble and often bribed with candy to listen and behave in Primary.  

So the primary program is a combination of the kids giving small teaching roles about a topic followed by a song on that theme.  As soon as Tyler saw Pop and Grandma he abandoned his class up front and came to sit with us, which is fine.  Someday he will sit in primary.  Last year Scott would rarely sing when the Primary sang in church.  He was too scared and usually stayed with us in the audience.  He maybe sang once as a sunbeam and it was a scary experience.  It didn't bother me.  Danny thought he should go up, but I believe that a kid will be ready when they are ready.  I guess we make a good team in finding a middle ground.

Well, this year Scott had a solo in the program and did awesome.  He likes to remind me that he was one of the two soloist.  He feels so good about himself and special.  I love that.

When they first asked I didn't know if he would do it, so I asked Scott and he said yes.  I realized the worse that would happen is that he wouldn't sing which would have been no big deal.  He sang a verse of Book of Mormon Stories all by himself in front of the entire congregation with confidence and his cute little Scott voice.  He did so great and everyone has been telling him how great he did.  Today someone asked him if he would do a solo at the Christmas concert.  It is so amazing to see how much a child can grow in confidence in just one year and the blessing of having so many supporters behind you.  If a child is given the opportunity to do something when they are ready, it can have such a positive impact.

There are so many things I am grateful for in our church and one of them is Primary.  Our kids have loving teachers who are so Christ-like.  They learn about our Savior.  Meet great friends.  And it gives them the opportunity to learn to speak in front of a small, supporting audience.  When kids turn 12 they speak in front of the congregation and I am always so amazed at how well they do.  I never went to primary and can see what a blessing it is for these little ones lives.  Thank you to all the Primary Teachers and workers who are impacting our kids!