Baby Taz

So it’s Sunday once again. The day went pretty well until this little girl in my Sunday School class decided it’s time to make Teacher Carol go real mad. She’s a kid from the neighborhood and I am actually happy that her mother who is not a member, allowed her and her older sister to attend my class. Each Sunday, this three year old girl would always get her hands on everything that she sees on Ella’s study table. Of course this upsets Ella so much because she’s just so paranoid now that something will be broken, destroyed, torn or would be gone missing. I always tell her to be patient and just talk to the kid nicely that she shouldn’t be touching her things and so this is what Ella does and it pleased me. She also could not sit still but would roam around and would be coming in and out of the house. This distracts the other kids. If she is sitting, she would kick or do anything to make the kid beside her (which is usually her cousin same as her age) cry.

Today she was such a handful. They came in just when I was about to start my class. I understand her attention span is so short that’s why I try to make it a point to be creative with my class especially the bible stories. With 3, 5, 8, and 9 year old mixed together like nuts, raisins and M&M’s in one bag, it’s pretty much of a challenge. So I understand why she can’t get her rear on that little chair longer. What drives me nuts is her being such a bully. While we are in the middle of our film viewing, she decided it was time for a show and I caught her pinching her dear cousin. The cousin ignored her and this girl wouldn’t get settled until she gets her cousin to tears and so she kicked her real hard. This time the cousin cried and I got up from my seat and held the girls hand. Since she’s so small, just my waist level, I sat back to my chair and tried getting her to stand up so we could talk eye to eye. She won’t budge. I commanded in a low but firm voice that she needs to stand up but she gets herself rolling in the floor like devil possessed. She was wailing harder than her cousin. This is her way to get out of the trouble that she made but I have been volunteering with our missionaries before to work with the kids in Bantay Bata 163 in Davao City-a home for the abused and neglected children. We have dealt with such behavior (and even worst like kids who bite, throw a fist and spit at your face when reprimanded) and I guess it was time to apply what I learned on how to deal with such kids. I held her two hands and pulled her up to sit on my lap. Each time I say something, she would bawl louder and louder. Now this is the real Baby Taz(manian devil). She’s already three and she should have been disciplined at home since she was a baby but as I could see on this girl, she had no idea the meaning of the word discipline. So while she tried all her best to win over the situation, I held her tight and told her she could not trick me with her crying and then I pulled another chair, get her to sit in there and said I would just come back when she’s done crying. Just a few minutes after I turned my back, the crying has stopped. I went back to her and I asked her is she’s done with her drama. She nodded with a smile. I asked why she bullies her cousin. There’s no answer. Then I began telling her that what she did is not good and when kids are not good, God is not happy and if they continue being bad, they could go to hell. She just looked at me with no reaction. I asked her if she knew what hell is. She shook her head. So I said “it’s where bad people go with a big lake of fire, would you like to go there?” She nodded. “What? Do you want to go to hell? It’s very hot in there and you will be with all the bad people.” She nodded again. “You know where hell is? It’s is where Satan lives. Do you still want to go there?” Again, a nod was her answer with a sheepish grin on her tiny lips. Such a Baby Taz. But what’s more important is that she seemed to listen to what I have said. She looks straight to my eyes and I believe she’s getting my point. She just needs someone who is consistent to get “dehorned” and I guess there would be no other but me.

I totally forgot about the time and we are still in the middle of “counselling” that I noticed people who attended the worship service are going home. I asked her to apologize to her cousin, told her we have to chat some more some other time, asked Ella to lead the closing prayer and quickly dismissed the class.

Today I was put to test and I hope I did the right thing. I am lucky I have Ella to assist me. She’s the attorney-at-law and she could also be the sergeant at arms.

Tags: Baby Taz, Bantay Bata 163, Davao City, discipline, Ella, Sunday school, tasmanian devil, worship service

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