Who knew teaching toddlers about Jesus could be so traumatic??
Every Sunday for weeks, it was the same story. I’d drop off my three-year-old at Sunday school and hold my breath. Within 15 minutes, I’d get the dreaded text: “Please come get your crying child.”
Cue the sinking feeling. The guilt. The frustration. The internal spiral that said, “If I were a better mom, he’d love Sunday school.”
When Church Felt Like a Failure
I was doing all the “right” things. We talked about Jesus at home. We sang worship songs. We prayed. But still — he just did not want to be away from me, especially not in a noisy classroom full of strangers.
It pushed every religious button I had. Sunday school was important, right? Wasn’t I failing him spiritually if I gave up on it?
I started to take his resistance personally — like his tears were a reflection of my parenting or his unwillingness to learn about God. But the truth was far simpler: he just didn’t want to be away from me.
A Conversation with God
One Sunday, after yet another emotional drop-off, I sat down and prayed. I asked God, “What do I even do here?”
And what I felt in response was simple but piercing:
“What’s the goal?”
Was the goal just to get him to attend Sunday school? Or was the goal to nurture his relationship with Jesus — to create a spiritual foundation he’d carry for life?
The answer was clear: connection over control.
Teaching Toddlers About Jesus—Differently
That week, I made a bold decision. I put Sunday school on pause.
Instead, I told my son we were starting something new: “Café Time with Jesus.”
Every Sunday, we pick out a special treat from a local café, sit at a table together, and dive into a fun, simple Bible story or activity. It’s our sacred little time, just the two of us — and Jesus, of course.
We read. We talk. We color. We pray. We build connection — with each other and with God.
What I’ve Learned So Far
He’s still learning about Jesus. But now, he’s doing it in a way that feels safe, comforting, and joy-filled.
And I’m learning, too — that teaching toddlers about Jesus doesn’t have to look like what we’ve always done. It can be messy, creative, and filled with whipped cream and crayons. What matters is the heart behind it.
I no longer see his resistance as rejection. I see it as an invitation — an invitation to connect, to slow down, and to trust that God is guiding this journey.
So Where Is This Going?
Honestly? I don’t know. I’m just committed to showing up with him every Sunday and letting Jesus lead the way.
I’m pretty sure Jesus is just as excited about treat time as my toddler is.
