The mom had gone to this church for years and somewhat knew the people in the room, but now it was different.
Now she had a baby.
Now she had this precious, fragile, beautiful little girl and she was anxious about leaving her with ‘strangers’.
She was incredibly nervous to leave her.
Her baby was only 2 months old.
The mom walked to the door of that baby room nervous, excited, and ready, but reluctant.
But when we she stood at the door something happened.
There was a smile.
There was a look of excitement.
There was an expectancy that they were ready for this baby, and this mom.
That small group leader in the baby room spoke encouragement to this nervous mom. She assured her that they would do everything that they could to love and care for her most precious gift.
The small group leader looked the mom in the eyes and said, “I am so glad that you are here. I know this is your first time to leave your baby, but we (pointing to the other volunteers in the room) are here each week and we will love and care for this sweet girl each week.” She handed this nervous mom a half sheet of paper with a note of encouragement for the week and gave her an assuring smile.
That small group leader did a lot in those 15 seconds of conversation.
She assured that mom that she was going to be present for that little girl. Each week she was going to show up and love her daughter.
She assured that mom that she was going to be present for her too.
You see, small group leaders in the baby rooms are extremely important. You are not just rocking babies and changing diapers. Not only is it important that you are present for those precious little lives, but it is incredibly important that the parents know that we are present for them too.
New parents, whether for the first time, or the fifth time, are still nervous about leaving their baby with someone else.
Those small group leaders have power to build trust and love in both the baby and the parent by just being present.
Latest posts by Cass Brannan (see all)
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This is so precious. I love keeping the babies at our church. I look forward to the parents dropping them off and knowing they want to come to me. It is with love that I work in the nursery. no gift is greater than a child. love and enjoy the baby room
I remember how it was when we first trusted someone else to watch our baby who is now 19yrs old. It’s a huge leap of faith even if we are a church. When I’m working the baby room, my husband Tom (bushy mustache) is serving as guard ourside the door. I was talking with a mother last night whom I had just met. She told a story of how she had gone ahead of her husband and therefore he didn’t have the ‘ticket’ to show he had a child in our care. My husband wouldn’t let him in. This couple were trying out our church and this was one of the reasons they still come. At a prior church, their daughter was somehow overlooked and was found wandering the hall – alone! Thank YOU for the trust you have to allow us the fun of caring for your little blessings!
I teach toddlers on Sunday and my biggest prayer is to not leave them. I know that in children’s church there can be sudden changes that need to be done, such as switching teachers, etc. I think teachers have to show commitment at every level for the well-being of the children, their families, and the whole church. People want routine, but it has to be a good type of routine, the type that produces success and a deeper appreciation for God. Parents and teachers can work together.
Thank you Cass for the reminder of what it feels like to be the mom entrusting her baby to me, the volunteer nursery worker. I needed that.