VBS 2023 (Summer)

I signed Shane up for VBS again! Only this year, it was to volunteer! Shane was assigned to a classroom of 5 year olds.

He had to attend a Zoom training in June. I gave him a pad of paper he could draw on if he needed. They wouldn't be able to see the paper, but they'd see the pen moving, so it'd probably look like he was taking notes!

I wanted Shane to attend for many reasons. It's a church! I want Shane to hear the Word and help out. Shane's social and there are a lot of other kids his age helping out he could meet. He's fantastic with younger kids. Hanging out with 5 year olds should play to his strength and build some self-esteem. It's a perspective change: Literal proof he's growing by moving from a student to a helper. Being a volunteer is like a first job. Shane will have that experience to draw on when he volunteers somewhere else next time. It's all about living life fully by getting out there and doing good things!

Plus, I offered money. $10 for each day he did good. It was the week of the Summer Steam sale, so lots of games were at heavy discounts. 

A little motivation can work wonders on a kid's focus.

I was thrilled when Shane said he "recognized a friend from previous years" working in the same class as him! The kid (Shane's terrible with names) lives in Madison two counties north of us ("I'm really good at making friends far away from where I live"). I asked Shane a bunch of questions about if he attended this church, it's youth group, etc, but Shane was clueless.

I helped out, too. I hoped that me volunteering would help Shane get picked, but they probably took anyone!  We were literally in two different worlds and never crossed paths. They don't even sing the same songs between Elementary and Preschool.

I liked the elementary shirt color much better, too (but I get a natural looking smile from Shane this time! Woo!).

I prayed and prayed all that first day that no one would come and get me or switch Shane to my classroom ("Please Lord, guide him!"). Shane did great! I took him out to wherever he wanted for lunch to celebrate! He picked Noodles and Company (and picked a table with a broken chair).

Part of it was strategic: Shane had an orthodontist appointment in the afternoon. We needed to fill some time. We stopped at Cville Oriental on the way up and I let him pick out a treat for dessert (for AFTER his teeth were looked at).

We showed up early hoping that they'd take him back early (They did!).

I thought it was going to just a glance, but they put in a 'power band.' It looked like a rubber band that pulled all the teeth together (I don't think they had those in my days).

The week went on from there. Shane said he liked being in charge! He felt like kids respected him.

I would have liked to have seen him some, but, again, our paths never crossed. My group was great and I loved the board game theme this year.

Everything was going well, at first. We had our routine. The Subaru didn't have air conditioning, so we left our work shirts in the car and then changed into them when we parked. We took them off right afterward, because we were definitely going to sweat on the way home!

Tuesday, Shane came home with some sniffles. There was no fever, so I made him go in Wednesday.

The sniffles were definitely worse. Shane said he'd been the special helper for a boy with special needs day 1 who'd been coughing and snotty and never showed up day 2. Whoops.

Shane took one for the team. Maybe he absorbed all the coughs and let the others stay healthy. Stuff happened and Carrie and I decided to keep Shane home the rest of the week. The beach was next week and he needed to be healthy to go! I stayed home Thursday, as well, because the cars were getting locked at. I went in Friday to finish out the week (with a working air conditioner!).

First Baptist does the best VBS in the area each year. I'm proud Shane held down a 'job' even if it was only for three days. I hope we both get to volunteer there again next year (and that Shane will get to finish a whole week!).