Of MOPS and Middle School
I spend one Friday a month in the company of two completely different age groups, neither of which I personally occupy. In the morning I “lead” a group of 2 1/2 year olds for 3 hours while their moms get to spend some adult time with other moms of preschoolers (Hence the name “MOPS”) and learn from other mentor moms that yes, you will indeed survive these crazy years.
In the evening, my role switches to being a co-leader with a bunch of other leaders all young enough to be my own kids or even grandkids. We’re all part of a Christian organization for middle school students that offers fun activities and introduces them to Jesus. I’m usually the oldest person there but having raised two daughters who (mostly) successfully navigated through those tumultuous times, I understand that despite the size and ages of those two groups, they share many similarities and struggles. I go to bed at night both exhilarated and exhausted. I get to be there at both ends of the spectrum of childhood; when babies start to become kids and kids are developing into young adults.
With both ages groups comes constant activity; any room they are in practically pulses with their energy. It’s definitely contagious. While I often start the morning with several layers of clothing since I’m always cold, before an hour is over, I’ve shed the sweater and long cardigan along with my shoes since I’m crawling on the floor doing my best ursine impression to “Goin’ on a Bearhunt”. The littles seem delighted with my displays of animal agility. I’m not quite as sure of the middle schoolers when they see my gyrations during the “Let’s Dance” videos. Most of the preschoolers throw themselves whole body into every activity, but there are always those who stand back, watchful, unsure of themselves. It’s much the same for the tweens. It takes the few brave souls to get out and show the others that it’s OK.
Jesus took caring for children very seriously. He rebuked His disciples when they tried to keep the children away from Him. He knew they were important members of God’s family and guiding them was everyone’s responsibility. To lead a child astray had dire consequences. There is no age limit on that responsibility; my actions have just as much weight on an 14 year old as on a 4 year old. Both are facing new experiences and making choices that will affect their future.
But they don’t see the future. They live in the moment and it’s all about them. Friends are friends until they take your graham cracker….or your best friend. Those chicken nuggets you begged for yesterday are the wrong shape today and how could you buy me that phone when all my friends have the cool IPhone 57? It’s a balancing act for sure, one that plays out with drama every day. Tantrums in Target and door slams at dinner.
But then, every once in awhile, that little boy who ran away from me for months and wouldn’t sit down, comes and hands me a book and climbs in my lap. The girl who comes to every meeting but never says a word asks me to pray for her dad; she doesn’t say why but God knows. I’m grateful for the chance to be a part of their world for those moments to be like Jesus for them. Oh, it goes sideways sometimes. Yesterday at MOPS, my student helper (who is a child-whisperer) didn’t show, the sweet mom who was my adult helper had her own two year old attached to her like a barnacle on a pier and every child who had ever come to MOPS in the history of the program decided TODAY was the day to attend. Some of you reading this may not be old enough, but there were times yesterday when it looked like an episode of “I Love Lucy” where Lucy had volunteered to watch a couple of young boys and….well, it wasn’t pretty. I have to admit, when I went to bed last night, I was not exhilarated, only exhausted.
And yet today, when my husband and I were eating lunch at a local cafe, a woman approached us and asked me, “Are you a teacher?” I said yes and she said, “You taught my son in 8th grade and he really liked you!” He had graduated last June, my last class of 8th graders before I retired. What a gift she gave me: the recognition that I had made a difference in a student’s life. I’m grateful to have the opportunity, even if it means crawling on all fours and growling or following the dance steps to a Tik-Toc video with my 6th grade girls.
