Sunday School Chairman

Since Kristen is usually off teaching primary, and Eddie is becoming increasingly mobile, I have become that guy in church. You know, the hapless fellow that is constantly trying to wrangle his child?

When looking for a seat in Sunday School, I always pick a spot close to a door. I usually keep Eddie on my lap so he can't escape, but will set him down if he gets particularly restless. Such was the case this past Sunday. I was sitting on the back row on the far right side of the Relief Society room next to the side door. The back row of chairs started with their backs against the wall in the center of the room, then gradually curved forward so there was some space behind me where Eddie could move around. I thought this was a good thing. I was wrong.

Instead of staying in the open area, Eddie immediately started crawling towards the middle of the room, and the row of chairs was now curving back toward the wall. I hesitated for a split second, and the space he was entering quickly became too narrow for me to go after him.

Now fully alert, I slipped out the side door and came around the hall to the back door to head him off. He had gotten himself wedged between the wall and the metal chair legs just short of the center aisle. He was just starting to raise his voice when I was able to come to his rescue. Luckily he didn't get stuck out of my reach, or he would have really caused a scene.

I have to say, I miss the early days when he didn't leave his car seat for the whole 3 hours. At least he is still too little to bait me into the old chase around the chapel in the middle of sacrament meeting routine.

The wheels are already turning, plotting how he will evade me next week.