On Your Mark, Get Set, Go

Until you have toddlers you will probably never notice that many of our LDS church buildings have a built in race track.  This morning I took Sophia out of sacrament meeting to change her diaper.  When we finished, she bolted out the door of the rest room and took off running.  The ward that meets after us must have been between meetings because they were all out in the hallway.  In her bare feet, Sophia dodged the people, running as fast as she could and laughing.  I followed afterward, carrying a few things and in heels.  Needless to say, I was not as agile as she was.  I called out under my breath, "Somebody catch her."  But the grownups in the hallway just kept moving aside as she bulldozed ahead.  A few people who heard my plea, laughed.  Finally, she stumbled just enough to allow me to catch up.  I scooped her up and headed for the chapel.  It was time for the closing song and I am the organist.  Jerry met me at the door and took Sophie.  I walked into the chapel, trying to look composed and reverent.  Everything and everyone was very quiet.  They'd already announced the closing song and were just waiting for me.  I took my place at the organ and played the closing song.  But I was not thinking about the words.  I was thinking about the race track in our church building.  The hallway runs a complete circle around the building.  The only way to stop a runaway child is to have one parent following from one direction and another parent coming at the child from the other way.  Then the child gets sandwiched in between.  But maybe….maybe I'm the only mother who has had this trouble with my little ones. Maybe no one else has two year olds who are aspiring Olympic runners.   BUT I DOUBT IT!!!  Anyway, this little incident did provide a little smile and a chuckle for more than one member of our ward, as well as for Jerry and myself.