Chris got called to be in the bishopric of a singles ward on campus. His ward goes from 9:00 AM-12noon, and our normal married student ward goes from 12noon-3:00 PM. So, potentially I could go to 6 hours of church, if I was feeling very adventurous. I'm never feeling adventurous on Sunday.
I always try to at least hit up the minimal 3 hours, whether it's 2 hours here, 1 hour there, whatever... Also, I try to at least show up at both wards, at some point in time during the day, but sometimes it's easier said than done--- J thinks that 20 minutes of church is long enough; talking him into 3-6 hours is a whole other story. Basically our routine lately has been going to Chris' ward the usual 9-12, eat lunch, put J down for a nap. If/when Chris gets done with his meetings, he comes home before 2:00, and then I head off to my own Relief Society.
This is all done with very selfish motives. I simply want two things to happen at church: J to see that his Dad is actually an active member (why we go to the singles ward), and to be uplifted by married women (why I go to the married ward). Let me explain:
At first I was just planning on going to my normal family ward, without Chris. Then, I got to thinking (remember, everything with me is way more dramatic then necessary) "Wait a minute. I don't want this to cause any weird childhood issues with J thinking, 'Why doesn't Daddy ever go to church with us?' Especially because in the morning, I would tell J, 'Say bye to Daddy, he is going to his church...' Yes, that could have some very deep emotional impact on his life down the road", the whole 12 months old that he is. Can't have that happen. As we would sit in our own ward for the 3 hours, he didn't have his Dad there with us, and for all he knew, he was off going to some radical church 3 hours before we did. So, I decided against the 100% my ward thing.
Then I was just planing on going to Chris' singles ward, with Chris. That would solve the whole ruining-J's-childhood-problem. But, then I started to worry about my own psychological issues that could result from this. You see, Chris and I work in the Hales (dorms). We deal with the single students from Monday-Monday. Every day of the year. Now, he is in a singles ward, dealing with the same exact (ok, not all the same exact, but you get my idea) people. Most married people on campus live over in the housing development called TVA. We lived there for a whopping 6 weeks before J was born. I never got that whole "married-connection" thing. So, now moving us over to the singles ward, was shunning us even more from this married world I oh-so-badly wanted to be a part of. That my friends, is why I want to show up, for at least an hour, to be with the married woman. That is my ONE HOUR during the week, that I get to be with woman who are in the same boat as me; who are far more inspiring than my mind is, and I get to just bask in their presence.
Call me crazy, I get it. But really, I know each and every person that lives in TVA knows the whole "married-connection" thing I am talking about. Everyone knows everyone, and all the kids run around wild together. We don't have that over here in the Hales. J is an only child, among 200 + college students. He thinks the world revolves around him, because all of our residents just adore him. Remember how I am going through adult withdrawl? Well our residents are going through baby withdrawl, so J gets the full force of their affection.
Anyway, I think I have a pretty good system down now. At least until December, when J should start nursery, plus this extra little human coming to our family. What to do, what to do?? Oh gee... here we go again.
I always try to at least hit up the minimal 3 hours, whether it's 2 hours here, 1 hour there, whatever... Also, I try to at least show up at both wards, at some point in time during the day, but sometimes it's easier said than done--- J thinks that 20 minutes of church is long enough; talking him into 3-6 hours is a whole other story. Basically our routine lately has been going to Chris' ward the usual 9-12, eat lunch, put J down for a nap. If/when Chris gets done with his meetings, he comes home before 2:00, and then I head off to my own Relief Society.
This is all done with very selfish motives. I simply want two things to happen at church: J to see that his Dad is actually an active member (why we go to the singles ward), and to be uplifted by married women (why I go to the married ward). Let me explain:
At first I was just planning on going to my normal family ward, without Chris. Then, I got to thinking (remember, everything with me is way more dramatic then necessary) "Wait a minute. I don't want this to cause any weird childhood issues with J thinking, 'Why doesn't Daddy ever go to church with us?' Especially because in the morning, I would tell J, 'Say bye to Daddy, he is going to his church...' Yes, that could have some very deep emotional impact on his life down the road", the whole 12 months old that he is. Can't have that happen. As we would sit in our own ward for the 3 hours, he didn't have his Dad there with us, and for all he knew, he was off going to some radical church 3 hours before we did. So, I decided against the 100% my ward thing.
Then I was just planing on going to Chris' singles ward, with Chris. That would solve the whole ruining-J's-childhood-problem. But, then I started to worry about my own psychological issues that could result from this. You see, Chris and I work in the Hales (dorms). We deal with the single students from Monday-Monday. Every day of the year. Now, he is in a singles ward, dealing with the same exact (ok, not all the same exact, but you get my idea) people. Most married people on campus live over in the housing development called TVA. We lived there for a whopping 6 weeks before J was born. I never got that whole "married-connection" thing. So, now moving us over to the singles ward, was shunning us even more from this married world I oh-so-badly wanted to be a part of. That my friends, is why I want to show up, for at least an hour, to be with the married woman. That is my ONE HOUR during the week, that I get to be with woman who are in the same boat as me; who are far more inspiring than my mind is, and I get to just bask in their presence.
Call me crazy, I get it. But really, I know each and every person that lives in TVA knows the whole "married-connection" thing I am talking about. Everyone knows everyone, and all the kids run around wild together. We don't have that over here in the Hales. J is an only child, among 200 + college students. He thinks the world revolves around him, because all of our residents just adore him. Remember how I am going through adult withdrawl? Well our residents are going through baby withdrawl, so J gets the full force of their affection.
Anyway, I think I have a pretty good system down now. At least until December, when J should start nursery, plus this extra little human coming to our family. What to do, what to do?? Oh gee... here we go again.
i am SO with you ... living way out in hauula, the 3 miles away it is, i feel so isolated. i used to go to TVA all the time to act like i was part of the "married connection" as you called it but always felt kinda of like the resident martian, by no fault of anyone but myself. yada yada yada ... i would LOVE to ward-hop back to the 14th ward, so you go girl!
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