Hello, everyone, and welcome to this week's episode
of Trinity Talks. My name is Kyla, and I am sitting
down here with two folks who are part of our
Trinity family, who both just happen to be moms.
And we're going to talk a little bit about what
that's like being a mom of young kids and this
young family sort of ministry that's been starting
here at Trinity. So thank you so much for joining
me, ladies. Thanks for having us. Thanks for
having us. Maybe I'll get you to start by doing
a little bit of an introduction, say a little
bit about yourself, about your family. Do you
want to get us started? Hi, I'm Travis. My husband,
Eric, is also here. Not with us right now, but
he's out there with our two twins who are probably
running all around the coffee room. We also have
a gerbil and a new fish named Pretty Fish Princess,
which is the kind of name that you get when you
let your four year old name a fish. OK, but that
is like majestic. Yes. Yeah, that's lovely. That's
us. What color is pretty? Oh, she's pink. She's
a pink betta fish. Yeah, with a unicorn and a
rainbow tank. OK, this is awesome. I love that
so much. OK. And yeah, go ahead. My name is Amy.
My husband is Luke, who's also, I'm sure, running
after all the children. And my son is Callahan
or also be called Callie. OK. Yeah. Yeah. Cool.
Well, so I know you folks have been sort of integral
in starting this young families ministry here
at Trinity. So maybe you can just share a little
bit about like what sort of prompted you to want
to do that? Like, what's what's the need or the
desire there? I think it's Travis and I, we would
get our kids together. My son is three and a
half. The twins are four turning five soon and.
We just felt that need for community. We'd always
see parents on a Sunday morning We kind of see
them here and there and it's kind of like the
kids run around they have a great time So we
thought why not bring all the families and the
kids together sure Yeah for sure and I think
especially on Sundays like we all have our hands
so full you know there's cookies there's running
around and so sugar we don't always get the opportunity
to connect we can see each other we wave at each
other but we don't always get that chance to
really talk and spend some time and get to know
each other as people and so that was I think
another reason we wanted to make something a
little bit more. like separate just for us that
that we could get to know each other and and
chat and kids can get to know each other too.
Sure. Yeah. So what what does this ministry sort
of look like right now? What have you folks been
up to? Well, last month we just started, we're
just bringing the families together on a Saturday
here at the church and just letting the kids
kind of go free. It's nice for us because they're
contained and they're comfortable in the space
too. So that makes sense. And the parents, we
just had a great time. We were just able to chat
because the kids all just played in. Right. It
was a great time. It was awesome. We had snacks.
We had a bouncy castle. We had we had all kind
of coloring and kids of all ages, which was really
cool, too. We had some some really little ones
and then some older ones. And then they just
they had a blast. It was it was a crazy time
downstairs. Yeah, like it was a bit of mayhem,
but it was it was good mayhem for sure. Right.
Yeah. OK. Yeah. So you're all sort of like getting
together. There's this opportunity for the kids
to sort of play together. And then, yeah, because
there's like a critical mass. Right. So you don't
need to be like one -on -one with your kids.
So there's a little bit of time for you to sort
of connect and chat and that sort of thing. And
that's kind of the goal is having, otherwise
we're just parenting our kids and this is an
opportunity to keep them contained, but still
get to chat with each other. Yeah, that's awesome.
Yeah. So you started that, you've done one month
so far. And when are you meeting up? So we're
hoping to do the last Saturday of every month.
Maybe you could speak more to that, Travis. Yeah.
So the next one is next Saturday. We're sort
of doing it late afternoon timing to hopefully
work around everybody's nap schedule. But open
to feedback on that. That time seemed to work
really well. So it's just in the church basement.
You just show up. with your kid and and we have
a great time. So, yeah, the next one is next
Saturday. So Saturday, so April 25th. That's
right. Yeah. OK, awesome. So, yeah, this is sort
of the ministry that you guys have been doing
here. But I think, you know, you're also like
in this like really sort of particular stage
of life with your families right now and a stage
that some people have been through. Some people
are in. Some people have never been in. So I
think it would be interesting sort of hear more
about like, yeah, what? this has been like for
you. Yeah, and so as parents of young kids, like
what are some of the things that you find like
really challenging about that? And yeah, how
does that sort of connect with church or with
faith? I would say just time, lack of time and
lack of sleep are probably my two biggest challenges.
Sure. It's really hard to connect with people.
It's really hard to. do a lot of other things
that are not solely around your child. And you
could probably see even more to that with two
of them. So I just think that people who have
been through this season probably they recognize
looking back like this. I hear it again and again.
This is a very busy season of life. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, for sure. Something else I've also noticed,
especially as I talk to my mom and, you know,
other folks who have been through this already,
maybe 10, 20 years ago. Parents now I feel like
we have a lot of online community. And so there's
a lot of information. There's a lot of opinions.
There's a lot of pressure, but not a lot of physical
spaces for us to kind of come together and actually
see other parents parenting. I think we often
get that highlight reel on Instagram and it's
really easy to be very hard on yourself and think,
oh my gosh, I'm not taking them to the zoo every
weekend and I'm not able to produce this like
handmade birth. day party and all these things
that you see on your feed. But then when you
actually get in a room with other parents and
they also haven't washed their hair and they
also didn't sleep last night, it's like, okay,
I'm fine and I'm doing all right. So I think
to the point about the Young Families Ministry,
it's so important for us to physically come together
just because I feel like parenting right now
is in very odd. Space sure just isn't that opportunity.
It's true. Yeah, like growing up. We were always
with My brother's friends and their parents and
we had a community of people and I think that's
what we're looking to start like there's nothing
better than Being able to co -parent with your
friends Yeah, like it's not just you and your
kid and your husband like bringing all the kids
together and being able You know chat with friends
and just it's more fun for everybody. I think
sure. Yeah. Yeah, and I think it's nice to you
know you want your kids to be safe of course
but you also want them to have other influences
other than just you right like you want them
to be hearing other people's perspectives and
open to what other families are doing and so
this is kind of a nice safe way to do that where
we're all sort of like -minded and you know we
can all come together feel comfortable um just
letting them let them loose sure yeah yeah for
sure yeah so then like How does that intersect
with like being part of a church community? Like,
do you feel like this is a space that like helps
you to do that? Well, are there things that like
the church can be doing to like help you do that
better? I just think that this church has been
great with just, you know, the kids are running
around and we trap us for having this conversation
like we are trying our best and people are very
gracious with our kids and loving with our kids.
Yeah. Even now, Sue just went and grabbed my
son's favorite cookie because it wasn't on the
plate for him. Like just things like that, which
make our children feel loved and supported here.
Sure. I think is I've seen it. So it's been it's
been really great. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, 100%. I
think just having, again, like, you know, when
you're in a church community, there's all ages
and stages, right? And so there are a lot of
people here who have done it. You know, it's
been nice. There are a few other moms of twins
who have gone through the whole phase, and it's
just nice to see that they survived and to talk
to them about, like, how they did it and be able
to sort of get that advice sometimes. And yeah,
definitely feeling that love and support on Sunday
morning. Like, I never feel you know, if we're
having a little bit of a moment, I never feel
like we're getting side eyes or anything like
that. I think that's so important that, you know,
this is a space for everybody. And it's, you
know, that includes the two year old who didn't
get a good sleep. Yeah. Yeah. And the mom of
the two year old has gotten even worse. Yes,
for sure. So on the flip side, what is really
joyful or encouraging for you about being a parent
of toddlers? Are there moments where you're like,
oh, this is actually worth it? Absolutely. It's
actually funny. I saw something the other day
and it said, It's so difficult to describe the
experience of parenting, especially to folks
who haven't had kids, because it is so easy to
describe the hard parts like we've done. You
can easily put into words and everyone can kind
of relate to what it feels like to have not had
a lot of sleep or to be a little bit overstimulated
with noise. the great parts are so hard to describe.
You know, it's so impossible to put words to
that feeling when, you know, you've been out
for a little bit on an errand and you come home
and your kid just like runs to you with their
arms open, like mommy's home, you know, like
that is impossible to put into words. And so
as much as I think it sounds like, you know,
a lot of times parents are like, ah, there's
so much bad going on. I think it's just because
it's so hard. to articulate how amazing it is
and how much it fills your heart when those moments
happen. Right. Because it's not like feeling
that you get. It's not like, oh, this thing happened
that was cool. Like sometimes maybe. But yeah,
it's that feeling. And there's nothing like it.
There's really just nothing like it. Yeah. Yeah.
Especially like the toddler age, you get to see
like their personalities develop, right? And
just like. They're starting to do things like
my son's just like learning to ride his bike
and like just seeing those moments and feeling
so proud. And yeah, yeah, you can't really describe
that. You're right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's it's
kind of magical. And to see how they like just
absorb stuff, you know, you'll you'll be talking
to them and you're like, oh, they don't they
don't really listen to me. Right. And then then
you'll hear them say exactly the same thing that
you told them last week to like their friend
at school or their sibling. And so it's like,
oh, wow. OK. It's getting in there and, you know,
they're they're growing and they're listening,
but, you know, they just have to take their time
with it. But that's really cool. Oh, they're
hilarious. They're so funny. No filter. They
just they just say the best things. I just find
I I do laugh a lot. OK, yes. Yeah, I have a notes
app with with all the funny quotes and we do
on their birthday every year. We do a fill in
the blank. OK, people try to guess like what
was the ridiculous thing they say. Yeah, it's
it's a good idea. Yes, that sounds lovely. Oh
man, do we have any funny quotes or funny stories
that we want to share at this moment? You're
like, ah, this, my kid did this this week and
it was hilarious. I have one, I can't share it,
but there's, he just does, he's in the washing
humor phase right now. Yeah, it just brings out
my like inner child, I guess. Like, I just am
dying when he says some of the things he says,
especially like around my parents who are more
proper. That's the best. Yeah, that always gives
me a good laugh. So, yeah, I know he's that's
where we're that's where we're at. Yeah, it's
a real stage. Yes, it is. And you think you can
avoid it and you think it's not going to happen
to you. And then and then it does. Yeah. Yes.
Yeah, we were going over there is. a child in
the class who was nicknaming everybody and my
kids don't like to be nicknamed and so I was
like oh no I've got nicknames for you so I'm
gonna go through them and yeah you know check
that they're all okay and so he asked my son
you know can I still call you buddy and he looks
me in the eyes he says you can call me sir wow
okay then I don't think he knew why that was
so funny but like And so now I call him sir and
he hates it. That is so funny. Yeah. Oh man.
They just don't understand sometimes the like
associations of words, right? And so they say
things. All right. That's something. That is
really good. That's my favorite one lately. That
is a good one. Yeah. Yes. You're so funny. Yeah,
and I think like you were talking about, you
know, getting to see kids like develop in their
personality. And so like over the past year,
my partner's niece is now like just over two.
Yeah. And like to see her like developing language
and being like, whoa, I'm like having a conversation
with you. Like you're a real person. You're a
real person with ideas and feelings. Yeah, it's
so cool. Yeah, it's a really cool thing to see
for sure. Yeah. Yeah. So when you think about,
you know, other other folks, other at church
or in your family or in your life, like, what
are some ways that people can be helpful or supportive
for parents of young kids? I'd say listen first
and maybe sometimes restrain the urge to give
advice. Yeah, I think it's so important to understand
where somebody is at. first before you sort of
embark on that. I know as a twin parent, I've
gotten a lot of advice that is simply impossible
to implement because there were two of them.
And, you know, you just can't rock two to sleep
at the same time, for instance. Yeah. And often
we've heard it, right. It's just for whatever
reason. Yeah. Things have fallen off the track.
You know, either it's lack of sleep or too much
going on or somebody got sick or whatever. So
I would just say, like, I think just being there
and and saying I hear you and you know is there
anything I can do or do you need help is super
helpful rather than sort of assuming that that
you know because I think you know every parent
once they get through certain stages I think
they they write their own little handbook for
their kids at that age. But what I've experienced
is that the handbook is not transferable. It
doesn't necessarily, you know, apply to another
child. And so, yeah, I would just say just being
there and being a friend and being like an adult
to like, you know, realizing that parents are
still adults and still want to have like an adult
conversation. Sure. Not just about the kids.
We love talking about our kids, but we also love
to, you know, just connect as people to. Yeah,
for sure. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. I would agree
with that. I would agree. Yeah, a lot of advice
and we, as you said, we see it on social media
too, right? We're constantly bombarded with advice
from like the teachers, from other parents, from
our parents. Yeah, so I would agree. Just listen
and try and hold in the advice because sometimes
we just need to vent. Really we do. And sometimes,
you know, we want, we also just, I like to see
when other people love my kid and just interact
with them. I think that's really special to me.
And so I think that... just have been part of
those good moments as well as also great. Yeah,
yeah, for sure. Yeah. And that like, yeah, I
think I think like when you talk about, you know,
like co -parenting with your friends, like those
other adults who like love on your kid. Right.
Like it's it is that community piece that I think
is is really important and helpful. Yeah. You
see it missing. Like you see it missing with
other like with his schoolmates and like other
friends. You see that kind of in our society.
It's really it's not the same as it was with
just, I guess, the age we live in. And I think
it's so important to the kids. Yeah, for sure.
Are there ways that you think like being a parent
has like challenged your faith or your understanding
of God in some way or like been helpful in that
journey? It kind of makes you go back to the
beginning. I've been starting the explanation
with my kids now in a more concrete way of, why
are we coming to church? What does it mean when
we're asked to pray? What should we be doing
during that time? And it really does make you
kind of go through it all. from like a five -year
-old level, which I think is kind of helpful.
And then they ask sometimes really insightful
questions to your point, like where they just
kind of come up with these things and you're
like, wow, okay, I have to like take a second
and think about that. And so that's been kind
of cool to sort of revisit the basics. Yeah,
that's how it's been for us so far. Yeah, yeah.
I think that and like seeing, you get to see
kind of Jesus again through a child's eyes. Like
the other night Callihan was just like, I want
to love everyone because Jesus loves everyone.
And just like, yeah, yeah, Jesus loves me so
much and he's proud of me and like he'll say
things like that. And I'm like, I don't know
if I've ever said like those exact words to you.
So it's interesting. It's not just like repeating
what I say to him. Right. So it's kind of, yeah,
like having that child's eye view that we used
to have or I used to have growing up, growing
up in the church that. Yeah, of who Jesus is.
It's really cool to see. It's just it's not tainted.
It's not, you know, influenced by other things
at this point. So, yeah. Yeah. And experiencing
them hearing the stories for the first time is
kind of cool, too. Like, I think feel like my
kids for the first time really. took in Easter
this year. I got a lot of questions about a lot
of things. But just, you know, of course we hear
it every year, right? And so for us, it's almost
routine. And so to see like that sort of shock,
right? All these things that happened and then
what happened next and then who did that? And
why did they do that? It's kind of interesting
to see something that we just take as, you know,
part of the routine. having like groundbreaking
for them. Yeah, kind of cool. Yeah, cuz it's
like, like kids. They like haven't heard the
story maybe as many times, but like even they
They like ask questions about it because they're
so used to storytelling, I think, right? Like
we read kids these books and they're like, OK,
this happened and this happened in this person.
And then when we like go back to the Bible, we
don't necessarily tell those stories in the same
way to adults. But then when we tell them to
kids, it's like, oh, actually, let's connect
all the dots again. Yeah. Yeah, that's so cool.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah So if folks are sort of listening
and thinking okay, this sounds really cool You
guys sound like cool people want to hang out
with you and your kids What are some ways that
folks can learn more about the young families
ministry here at Trinity? Well, you can always
approach us on a Sunday morning. We're happy
to chat Both our husbands as well. Eric and Luke
are happy to chat I guess email the church too,
and they've been passing along all the questions
to you guys, to you and Luke specifically, so.
Yeah, and really, there's no barrier to entry,
you just show up. Great. Show up at the church,
I think it's at four o 'clock on Saturday. Yeah.
And we'll be here and we'll have stuff going
on and it'd be great, great to connect, especially
we both go to the morning service and so it's
been really nice to connect with some folks who
we don't usually see who go to the later service.
Yeah. But yeah, feel free to join us. And hopefully
we'll have some more different kinds of things
going on soon once we sort of get established.
Yeah. Yeah. Sounds great. OK, cool. Yeah. Anything
else you folks wanted to share as we sort of
end off? You think about, you know, parenting
and life and parenting and life? No, we're just
going on with our busy Sunday. It's totally fair.
Just totally fair. Yeah. Really appreciative
that. We've been able to start this group. I
think, yeah, we've there's a lot of young families
here. So it's been so nice. And so just really
thankful to everybody who supported this. and
help us make it happen. Yeah, agreed. Yes. Well,
thank you so much for joining me, folks. And
thank you for tuning in to this week's episode
of Trinity Talks. Hopefully, whether you are
a parent of young kids looking for some community,
you can find that here or find that in the spaces
where you find yourself. And if you know parents
of young kids, I just hope that this has also
been an encouragement to you that you can find
some ways to continue pouring into them and helping
them build up a community that raises our kids
well. And we'll see you again next week. Bye.