FHE: I Am Sorry

The Man and da Boo switched teaching responsibilities last week so she got her chance this week, while the Man is out of town. We had Aunt Denise and Grandma here to help us.

Opening Song: Grandma suggested one that the kids didn't know. Once There Was A Snowman was her second choice.

Opening Prayer: Aunt Denise.

Lesson: Da Boo and I looked through my FHE binder and she picked one based purely on the pictures I had...kinda like judging a book by it's cover. She chose "I can say I'm sorry." I coached her on sharing the story that went with the pictures and she told the story pretty much by herself. I originally got the pictures from here, here and here. I colored them, wrote a few lines from the story on the back of each picture and have used them several times. It's an easy enough story for the kids to follow. And they can relate to it. I am kinda paraphrasing here...find the full story here.

Matt and Travis are playing with Matt's toys. Travis really, really likes Matt's toys and wishes they were his. He decides to take the toys without asking and hides them in his pocket. But later on, when he's playing with the toys at home, Travis isn't having much fun. He feels bad inside. His mother asks him what is wrong and he admits he took the toys without asking. She tells him that what he did was wrong and he needs to find a way to make it right again. Travis wants to give the toys back but he doesn't want his friend to be mad at him. Travis' mom says that even if Matt is angry, Travis still needs to do the right thing. Travis takes the toys back, tells Matt he is sorry and promises not to do it again. Matt is glad to have his toys back and forgives Travis for taking them. Travis feels happy again. Saying he was sorry helped take away those bad feelings he had about what he did.

After she told the story, I said that there is a story in the Scriptures where someone does wrong and must say he is sorry for what he did. But I am constantly surprised at what she already knows. My 'teaching moment' went something like this:

Me: There was a man who a little bit naughty and did some not-so-nice things. His name was Alma the Younger.
Boo: Didn't he try to destroy the Church?
Me: Ummm...yes.
Boo: And he saw an angel.
Me: ...yes...
Boo: But then he was a nice guy.
Me: Yes, and that's the story. The end.

We talked a little more about how Alma had to tell the people he was sorry for the things he said and did, he tried to make things right again. She already knew this and just nodded encouragingly to me the whole time. Punk.

Closing Song: Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam.

Closing Prayer: Da Boo insisted she get to bless the treats.

Treats: Now, from the beginning of FHE, the Boy was in Time Out. I have a rule: if you're not going to be reverent and listen to the prayer, then you go to time out until it's over. So he was sitting in the corner, pouting. Several times, I tried to get him to come back and join us, but he'd rather stick his nose back in the corner and keep on whining. Then, just before the closing prayer, I revealed our treat for the evening: Cold Stone ice cream. Almost immediately, he was seated quietly in his chair, smiling and happy, arms folded and ready for the prayer. I did a double-take. Apparently I not only underestimate the teachings of the Primary, but also the happiness-altering powers of ice cream.