Teach Them Diligently

Whenever the kids realize it is Monday they get excited because Monday's mean Family Home Evening.

I realize the enthusiasm may wane in the coming years, but for now we are taking full advantage.

Last night was a typical FHE. Ryan (3) conducted with a little help from Kate (8). We sang songs, which Garrett (5) decided to sing one verse behind everyone else. We had a lesson, during which Kate did a hand stand and several cartwheels.

When it came time to play a game everyone was a little uncertain because we were going to try a new game - The Telephone Game. You know, the one where you secretly whisper a phrase or sentence, that you heard from the preceding person, to the next person until the last person repeats what they heard. The end result is most often comically incoherent gibberish.

After one or two tries the kids were into it and having a great time.

Then it was Mindy's turn to come up with a phrase and start the whispering.

She sat for a second looking up at the ceiling as she pondered. A slight smile broke out over her face as she leaned towards Paige (11). She carefully cupped her hand around Paige's ear to protect the secrecy of what she thought was the perfect tongue twister.

Now in an effort to be clever, she had devised her own twister instead of relying on one of the classics. When I debriefed her afterward all she could remember was that she intended her phrase to revolve around the word "ship".

So there we were as a family watching as Paige started to receive her "secret" from Mindy. A couple of seconds into the exchange, Paige's eyes went wide and Mindy jerked back, with her hands covering her mouth.

Then the laughter started. Mindy laughed so hard she had tears streaking down her face. I think Paige was relieved she was laughing and heartily joined in.

When Mindy could finally talk again she explained she was trying to say "ship" but her own tongue became a little twisted.

Oops.

Garrett's still not sure why we were all laughing so hard. But he thought it was the funnest game ever.