Growing up in Kansas, we went to the stake center for Conference. I especially loved it as a youth. There weren't any little kids around making noise, and I could just take lots of notes.
Now I live (as a mother) in Utah. It's still broadcast at the stake center, but it's also on 2 different local channels. We stay home in our pjs and do our best to keep the boys entertained. My notes aren't as copious, and I just can't pay as much attention. I keep thinking that I need to start lunch, or a load of wash, or I could be reading my book.....plus keeping the kids occupied.
What do you all do for General Conference? I suppose I'm looking specifically for how you get anything out of conference with the kids running around, but I also want to know what you do now, no matter what stage of life you're in. Do you make bingo cards? Do you dress up and stay home? Do you children attend all sessions with you at a stake center? Do you have any traditions?
What have you done to make General Conference special?
23 comments:
I used to love playing the Conference Bingo when I was a kid. It helped me stay focused.
P.S. PostSecret was awesome. You would have loved it.
Clint and I have had some real humdingers with the kids at the church building during conference so we caved and bought premium cable so we could get the BYU channel. Here is what I do:
Get the kids up early make a BIG breakfast and let them bounce off the walls until conference is about to start. Then I take them to their rooms and put them down for a nap. They usually wake up just before the session is over. Then I do the same thing at lunch. While I fix the lunch though Clint will usually take the kids to the park or out back and let them zip around for a while.
When Kailey is a little older I'm sure we'll have to get pretty creative to keep her quiet.
After the Saturday session is over we usually go somewhere downtown or to the beach or out for dinner and back home.
We have found that bribery is also a great to get Kailey to do what we want. Good luck!
I think taking notes is a great idea. I've never done that, and I should. I think I would get a lot more out of it, and it would help keep my mind focused. So thanks for the suggestion. One thing I have done in the past is print out a few coloring pages of flowers, etc, to keep my mind just busy enough with something else that I can listen without daydreaming too much.
We all have things that we can do with our hands--crocheting, coloring, puzzles, etc--that are quiet. We sit around together and quietly listen to conference online. Love it!
I just get excited so then the kids know that it is something of a special day. And I always insist that they listen to the prophet on Saturday at least. :) That is the universal law of the lds. Lately though, Mattie has shown more endurance power. So I am glad about that.
This year we're trying something new. For one session, I will watch it at home with the kids while Casey goes to the Stake Center and then we'll trade off. We're doing it both Saturday and Sunday. I hope it works!
My SIL has 7 children. For conf. she gets them all in front of the TV with finger food and quiet activities. yes, they don't stay quiet, but she feels it is more important to keep her family all together for conf. than ban her children to another room so that she can here.
We kind of have a similar belief. we turn on the closed captioning in case with miss something, and let the kids color in the living room. We don't force them to stay, but we try to help them to listen. They love the choir. Every time they sing my girls are dancing to the music!
I really like your idea, Sarah. Superman and I talked about one going, one staying with the kids last night, and he's content to stay home each time. I, on the other hand, would love to watch each session at the stake center. Is it totally selfish of me to want to let him stay home each time while I watch it at the stake center?
My dad makes "Grandpa Specials" for breakfast on Sunday morning. It's basically just hash browns, eggs and sausage. Pretty simple but my Gpa Saunders used to make it for his kids (only they called it "Daddy Specilas". Now it's our tradition. I also read somewhere about a family that pitches tents pointed towards the TV like the people did with King Benjamin. I'd like to do that with our kids when they bigger.
I like bingo for the kids. And making them at least pay attention while the prophet speaks. And I also record all the sessions so if I get interrupted I can go back and watch again without the littles.
I'm so looking forward to this weekend!
my family- there are 7 of us married, plus my parents- we all take part in the smackdown of all general conference battles.
we take extensive notes on the sunday sessions and then convene 1 1/2 hours after the last session and battle it out in General Conference Jeopardy. whichever family wins gets to take home the trophy for the next 6 mos and display it proudly. it is a fun tradition and truly involves the children in the note taking.
We always watched it on TV as a family when I was younger, because my grandparents got it on their satellite TV. My parents had us do quiet activities like coloring or doing puzzles or something while it was on. That way we could still listen but weren't expected to just sit there for hours. Of course, with very little kids they can't do that at all. Kirsten just runs around like normal while it's on. As for me. . . I love cross-stitching while I watch. It keeps my mind focused but my hands busy. :)
now that my kids are older & able to write and draw and understand bribes....
we enjoy conference :)
I love conference weekend now that I'm grown. When I was a kid I lived in Pennsylvania, so conference was a boring weekend sitting on folding chairs at the stake center. My kids have no idea how good they have it.
We did make a decision. We're moving the weekend of the 24th. Bitter/sweet...but I'm excited and extremely nervous. I'm actually flying out there tomorrow to check out prospective residences this weekend. It's the only time I could go, set up babysitters, etc. I'll catch Sunday of Conference but not Saturday...thank goodness for DVR (and the Ensign!).
I have the kids draw a picture of each talk and we put the speaker's name on the picture. After conference we put all the pictures in a book and they have their own book about conference. IT IS GREAT. m
We play Conference Bingo and I have to take notes or their voice totally make me fall asleep. I also do try to dress nicely for the Sunday sessions.
I trying to figure this out, too. I've printed off some stuff for the kids, like bingo. Usually we get the kids to watch one session each day then they can go play or read or something. I like the ideas some of your commenters have posted.
happy weekend!
I make conference packets for my kids. I make 2 of them for each kid-- even the grumpy teenager. They all sit and do their packets and I get to listen.
I also make an insane amount of food for us to eat all day long... both days.
Also.. we record conference in case we doze off or can't watch the whole thing, then we try to watch one talk a day. You could do this after the kids go to bed.
I grew up like you, at the church all day Sat and Sunday.... now we have satellite and we've only had it for about a year, so this is like our 3rd conference with it. I do have it on the planner to prepare the kids of expecations tonight. I printed off those email conf. packets and my kids are 12,10,7 and they were told that they have to do 4 hours. They can choose, one hour each session or all in one day, etc. So we will see... but on Sunday esp I wear a skirt and I try really hard not to get distracted by the house LOL
Times are different here in Brazil - at 1PM and 5PM. The 1PM (on both days) we put the kids to bed and watch on the internet - blissful peace!
The 5PM (on both days) we get dressed up and go to the church to watch - it helps it feel more "real" to me.
I prepare the kids for a good week or two before hand, teaching them about the prophets and apostles. THen they get excited when someone they "know" is on TV.
And of course we bring out the WORKS when it comes to toys, quiet books, and doo-dads!
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