Written by:
Paula Hyche
Louisville, KY
For those of you with several small children, I want to encourage you as a Pastor’s wife to always be prepared. Being a Pastor’s wife can be stressful but we can help eliminate the stress by thinking through situations that can arise with our children. Although my tips may seem too practical for most, being consistent in these small areas has been my survival guide while serving for the past six years in rural congregations with five small children. I want to encourage you today to consider how you can eliminate any unneeded stress that may come upon you as well as your child.
1) If you have several small children, always make sure you have an emergency change of clothes ready for any situation. Many times, I have found myself standing with them as they were covered in red fruit punch or had an accident going to the potty. However, I would not have to worry about leaving church because they didn’t have anything to wear, I would simply pull out my emergency change of clothes and all would be fine. Being prepared in this area was always a comfort to me as well as to my child because they knew that mommy had a change of clothes if needed.
2) If you are going over to an older couple’s home who may not have children or if you are going to a large social and if you have a infant or a roaming toddler, always have your portable play yard ready to go. If you have an infant, his or her car seat will serve this purpose, but for most children between the ages of 5-24 months, a portable play yard with several toys will ease your mind of them breaking something or falling down stairs in someone else’s home. This will also free your hands to help with dinner or clean up if needed as well as help you to be able to enjoy fellowship with your congregation members.
3) Use your stroller! Whoever invented strollers will never know how much they have blessed my life. Your stroller can be the best friend you may not have ever had. Literally, put your child in the stroller and roll! If you are at a fellowship and if you have a stroller with a tray, this can also serve as their high chair from which you can feed them. This technique as simple as it may sound will enable to you to have two free hands from which to meet and greet people as well as to enjoy your meal. The basket under the stroller is also most helpful to carry your personal belonging as well as other items that you may receive at church. (Also by having your child already strapped in the stroller, this will prevent your child from being passed around for everyone to hold and to kiss all over and thus eliminating the possibility of more sickness.)
Darlene
ladyofpurple
