My Time Is A Priority

Last week at church, they announced at the end that they will be doing a Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve and that all children of all ages are invited to participate. I turned to the wee ones:

Me: Mister Man, do you want to be in the Christmas play?
Mister Man: No.
Me: Ok. Little Miss, do you want --
Little Miss: YES!
Me: Mister Man, are you sure you don't want to be in the play?
Mister Man: I'm sure.
Me: It will be fun. You'll get to wear a costume and be on stage and show everyone what you can do. Doesn't that sound like fun?
Mister Man: Yes.
Me: So you'll do it then?
Mister Man: No, I don't want to.
Me: Can you explain to me why you don't want to?
Mister Man: Yes. I'm tired of church. I don't want to be here all night and all day. I'm going to want to go home before then.
Me: Umm, kiddo. All you have to do is come to church a half hour early on Christmas Eve. That's it.
Mister Man: Oh. Ok then. I want to do it! Who do I get to be?

And later, after social hour, when we were leaving:

Little Miss: Wahhhhhhhhhh! (laying on the ground crying tantrum)
Me: Little Miss, can you explain why you're crying?
Little Miss: I (sniff) don't (sniff) want (sniff) to (sniff) go (sniff) home (sniff) yet!
Me: Sweetie, why not? Aren't you hungry for lunch?
Little Miss: Yes, but I didn't get to do my play yet!
Me: Oh, Little Miss, that's not until Christmas Eve. We aren't doing it today.
Little Miss: Really? Ok, let's go then.

They're now both on the same page, and they're both excited. They keep talking about how Mister Man is going to be a shepherd and Little Miss a sheep and how he's going to take care of her. Or vice versa. I keep explaining that they aren't going to get to choose who they'll be in the play, but it isn't really sinking ing. Gotta love the wee ones and their thought processes!



PS Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers and positive wishes. I really appreciate it. We're now back from the hospital and discharged. Fever is gone, and lungs are clear. We're all exhausted, but we're on the road to recovery. Fingers crossed tonight is an easy night with just a couple nebulizer treatments and that tomorrow is a just a quick check in with the doctor!