I wrangle munchkins.  It’s a brilliant job. Most days.  But Children’s Ministry has its challenges.  We recently had several weeks of what can only be described as “serious and persistent behavioral challenges” – which is exactly what I called it in the parent letter I sent home; however, I decided to spare the gory details.  This behavior came to a stunning climax one Sunday when every boy in my 1st and 2nd grade class simultaneously needed to use the washroom and took off screaming through the halls with a stunned (and slightly frightened) youth volunteer.  Upon returning, we all put our heads down to think about our actions and spent the remainder of class talking about what constitutes appropriate behavior.  Apparently, although we know that we ought not pee in the sink, it came out during our discussion that one lad had done just that. At least we knew it was wrong, right?

My philosophy is that drawing too much attention to a particularly negative behavior – especially when the child has expressed remorse and understands why the behavior was incorrect – only exacerbates the problem. No more was said about peeing in the sink.  Until this morning.

Today, one mother approached me during the insanity that is parent pick-up.  Several weeks ago, I complimented her son’s art, and he continues to draw quite frequently at home.  She had discovered a fabulous drawing of a little boy stuck on her fridge, and questioned her son about it.  This mom had wanted to understand the fountainous yellow flow that the boy in the picture was releasing.  Her son left her in no doubt that it was a picture of the little boy who had peed in the sink.  I guess the moment was more formative for everyone involved than I had originally realized.  **sigh** I suppose for 6 and 7 year olds, it was very exciting and rebellious. And epic?

Thankfully, the mom was in very good humor about the whole affair.  With three boys of her own, she really “got it.”  And she didn’t blame  me.  She did, however, promise me the picture.

So I will frame the picture and put it up on my wall.    In many ways, it was a landmark for everyone – for the witnesses of the event, for the behavioral smack down that followed, and for the opportunity I had to bond with a parent over a sticky situation. The picture will be a great ice breaker whenever someone visits me in my office.