Sometimes we have no choice but to take our younger children with us when we go visiting teaching. If you must always take them, ask your Relief Society leaders to select sisters for you to visit who don’t mind children. Parents whose children are the same age as yours might be glad to have their children occupied during the visit. Older women whose children have left home often enjoy having young visitors to their home. Other women, however, may be uncomfortable having a child on the visit, particularly if they often need to talk openly and without interruption. Some sisters want or need your undivided attention and others find the child half the fun of the visit.
If your children are coming with you, first let the sisters you’re visiting know, and give them an option to schedule for another time if they’re not comfortable. Then prepare your children for the visit by teaching them how to behave. If the sisters you’re visiting don’t have small children, their house probably isn’t child-proof. Make sure your children are able to behave in the home, and understand that they must not touch anything without permission and are to stay with you. Keep an eye on your child so you can stop any behavior that might be even lightly out of line until you know what the sister’s comfort level is with behavior. For instance, stop your child from touching a piano or knick-knacks unless the sister invites the child to do so on her own.
Pack a bag of quiet, clean toys for your child. Books, crayons, dolls and other toys that will keep your child quiet during the visit increase the likelihood you’ll be able to hold a solid conversation with the sister you’re visiting. The focus should always be on the sister, not on your child, unless she keeps the focus on the child. Never expect the sister you’re visiting to provide the entertainment.
If your ward doesn’t require the visit to be in the sister’s home, you may be able to arrange to meet somewhere else if bringing your child is a problem, and leaving him home isn’t an option. A park or your own home might make the visit easier.
When it’s time for the message, let your child participate by holding visual aids. This will keep him occupied so you can concentrate on the message.
Even if you normally take your child with you, there may be times when you realize it won’t be appropriate, such as when the sister is facing a challenge that she wouldn’t want to discuss with a child in the room, or when you just know you need to be completely focused. If possible, arrange to trade babysitting with another sister periodically, to cover those emergencies.
Chocolate Chips and Charity: Visiting Teaching in the Real World
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