Motherhood Activity
by Sue

Last night we had a really successful activity I wanted to share with the list.  We adapted the Divine Nature/Motherhood Activity that was posted to the list on 4/1/99.  The Laurels planned the activity at our last Class Presidency Meeting since our theme this month is Divine Nature.  They requested that all the YW bring a doll from home, preferably the size of a Cabbage Patch doll.  The reason for this is that they felt most young mothers have a baby attached throughout most of the day, so this would make the timed activities more interesting! 

We divided the YW into 4 teams of 4 (Our attendance is always down in the summer!), then we told them what each of the stations would be.  Each team selected one girl to compete at each station (everyone competed once).  The girls were timed as they performed each activity.  The team having the lowest score (in seconds) at the end was the winner.  The stations we used were:

1)  Folding a fitted sheet.  We demonstrated twice then began the competition.

2)  Setting up a stroller, securing "baby", removing "baby", and folding the stroller.  Again, we first demonstrated a couple of times before starting the competition.

3)  Planning a meal for 4, including all food groups, for under $5.00.  One of the girls brought a variety of foods from home, set them up on a table, and had the price of each item on a separate list.  We gave the 4 competitors one  minute to select their food items (they had no idea how much each item actually cost), then they each explained their menu to the entire group.  The YW with the price list provided them with the cost of each item while one of the advisors tallied their totals.  They added one second to their team score for every penny over $5.00.  Very interesting menus!!

4)  Frying an egg, over-easy.

After the four stations were completed and the scores tallied, we went back to our chairs and had "Mothers"  brand cookies and milk.  While we enjoyed our refreshments, each of the YW leaders took a couple of minutes and shared with the girls our feelings about motherhood:  the joys, the pains, the awesome responsibility, etc.  We concluded with the Primary song "Mother, Tell Me the Story" (I'm not sure if that's the actual title).  Best of all, the Laurels planned and carried out the whole activity.  As their leader I took an assignment to assist them, but that's all.  It was a wonderful activity and the Spirit was very strong at the end when the leaders shared their testimonies...most of them had daughters there, so I think it was good for them to hear how much their mothers love them.