I found a great parish!

Loveajax,Isn't it nice to feel at home in a parish. I love ours too. Kelcee is 20 months and the same way. We usually get about 30 minutes of quiet with her then she is on the go.

I also have a 20 month old who isn't to thrilled to stay put during Mass. We usually can get to communion before she decides she's had enough-and then we move to the back of the church (entrance) where she can run around without disturbing anyone.

My friend and I were just discussing yesterday kids during Mass. Her parish has a cry room. And so they attend Mass regularly, are int he cry room most of the time, and baby M gets to run about. Anyone else with kids ought to understand. We do not have a cry room in our parish, so I usually would end up standing in the back, letting our son play w/ the stained glass on the doors. We also have only one Sunday Mass, and he's usually not up in time for us to get ready and go to it. I feel I don't get anything out of it when I'm there, but then feel guilty when I don't go, because I want to go every week, and think he ought to get used to it now. No one has ever commented to me that our son is handful (he's really pretty quiet. Just not at the age where he wants to sit still so long). ANd a couple people have said they do not mind having him around or that I took him out too quickly, but I'm over sensitive about bothering anyone. I'm REALLY hoping this is a stage that we get through quickly.

I don't worry about H unless he's being really noisy. Usually he's not, he doesn't sit still for long! We've had enough people around us say how much they enjoy seeing him every week that I have decided that he can't be bothering them too much. I just want Mass to be a regular part of his life. Loveajax, I am so glad you found a parish you like!

As a (Lutheran) pastor who regularly see young, active, children at worship, it's not the running thatis a problem... it's the screaming they do when they're not allowed to run! (LOL) Usually the parents are more worried about the noise and movement of childre than the congregation is. Remember, Jesus said, "Let the children come to me and don't forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God."

Some parishes have a "nursery" for younger children. LIke Stork, it seems that one of us does not get much out of mass when we spend 30 minutes with K in the back (not a runner yet, only 5 months old, but won't sleep when out of the house--i.e. cry, fuss). I am happy for you that you found a parish you like. We are just getting into the groove at church here in our new town--the people are very friendly, but I am having a hard time "connecting" with the priest. Does your DD like to use crayons? Will an activity like that keep her entertained for a short period?

When it comes to our children and Mass, we have found a couple of things. 1. Activities help - books to read, a travel AquaDoodle to draw on. 2. Snacks (nothing too messy) and a sippy cup can be a lifesaver. 3. The more regularly we attend Mass, the better our children tend to do. When we miss Mass one week (the Mass we attend is at 8:30, and sometimes, if my husband works overnight, there's just no way), we notice they do considerably worse the next week. But it's a struggle. Yet, the good news is, we've taught our oldest (at 3 years old) the Lord's Prayer (it's currently part of bedtime routine, but because he's got it down pat, I'm about to add the Hail Mary), and so he's got something to look forward to. And right after that is the Sign of Peace, then Communion, when we move, and then Mass is just about finished. We're currently in the process of drawing our daughter's attention to the Consecration, so that she knows that something important happens. Our oldest already knows that once the bells ring, he is supposed to say, "My Lord and my God." It gives him a way to connect with that moment. So, really if we can just get through the Homily (because at least during the Preparation of the Gifts, there's music), we can make it.

Jenn, it sounds like your children are learning a lot and getting good things by going to Mass. This past weekend K was very squirmy, which I guess comes with becoming more mobile around the house. Our main problem is, when she gets fussy, holding her in our lap will not help, but she is quiet when we stand. So, I was standing in the back for a while on Sunday! Anybody else's parish do some of the prayers in Latin? A few months ago our parish started doing some of the prayers in Latin. There is a sheet to follow along. I feel like I am not praying--I am just trying to pronounce the words. Then this SUnday now started the "Our Father" in Latin too.

We sometimes chant some of the service music, i.e., Holy, Holy and Gloria, in Latin. But if my parish started bringing the prayers back into Latin on a regular basis, I'd feel uncomfortable...as if Vatican II didn't happen and the next thing I could expect to happen is to see the priest facing the tabernacle and not the people throughout the liturgy. It would also make things more difficult for my children - hard enough for them to learn prayers in English - Latin would be a real challenge. The squirmy days are hard. Again, we use books a lot. Of course, it means that we don't get to pay attention as much as we'd like, but the upside is that our parish has adult ed (with nursery provided), and most weeks, it is a study on the Scripture readings at Mass that day. So, at least we get to think and reflect and pray on the readings during adult ed.

Interesting - My sister and her girls and my parents still go to my old home parish, and my sis was just telling me this weekend that they're doing more and more of part of some Masses in Latin. I wonder if it's a wider movement to go back to that? They have 4 priests they share between 2 parishes now (Makes me a bit envious, as we share one priest between 3 local ones here!!), and the "head" priest is very traditional and strict. They do not want kids having snacks in the church. I still bring a milk sippy. And I usually forget when we're there and have dried fruit or cheerios for him to snack on. But nothing messy. We always joke at our church that A likes to give Father his 10 minute warning - if the homily lasts much longer, you'll hear a little noise from our pew, as if he's telling Fr. Joe to "Wrap it up!"..... Of course, our small Mass only usually lasts around 55 minutes, which makes it easier for the babe. Last week, back home, it was 90- minutes, and he was READY to go.... (Although still less vocal about wanting to leave than the 4 YO....)