Reasons

A couple of weeks ago all the children in our congregation performed the songs, scriptures and concepts they've learned about in the past year's Sunday School to the congregation for a very special Sunday service, also known as the annual Primary Program. It was fantastic. I say this with all the pride of a mother whose children are (finally) old enough to participate.

I've always loved the Primary Program and have even helped both as a teacher and as the music director, but watching my own kids was one of the sweetest experiences I've had as a mother. In fact, I left with a renewed realization that the morning sickness and pregnancy drama are all worth it, and I'll willingly go through it as many times as Heavenly Father wants us to.

Moments like this are the payoff, the reason to have kids in the first place.

Ian spoke his part at the microphone with no hesitation at all, and then his teacher had him stay there while he and the rest of the Primary sang the next song, "Called to Serve." I have no idea when they decided to have him do a "solo" but it was great. And yes, I am his mother, so of course I think it was. But it is his favorite song. He has requested it at bedtime every night since his teachers taught it to him several months ago. He sang as unabashedly as he would have had there been no audience at all. It was wonderful. No video recording of the actual event, but here is a repeat performance.

And they invited the two-year-olds up for a couple of songs which JJ enjoyed immensely, and of course, he was the cutest one.