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I'm just venting here, but it's still got me steamed. We go to the same Mass every week, and sit in the exact same pew about halfway back on one side. My mom and nephew get there first, save the outside seats for us, we have only 1 row in front of us where the aisle divide is, and behind us we have H's "church grandparents", an older couple who dote on him. So, he's kind of boxed in with people who know and love him---precisely so that he won't be disruptive. This is a 100 year old cathedral, no cry room, no nursery at this mass. We choose this mass because it is H's best/calmest time of day. Yesterday, some couple, probably about my age, sits behind us, displacing H's church grandparents, who sit in front of us instead. H is active, climbs on the kneeler, plays w/ a quiet toy, etc. but doesn't cry or make much noise. The guy says, purposefully loud enough for us to hear him "This is why I hate it when people bring kids to church." WHAT??? :confused: All through mass he kept sighing loudly and "HMPH"ing every time H moved. I don't mean to be one of those parents who thinks everyone should adjust to my child, but for crying out loud---what exactly am I supposed to do, drug him so he won't move and bother you? Geez. Heaven forbid you bring a CHILD to CHURCH.
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I'm not Catholic but I had to respond to this one. Eve is not quite five months old. Usually she's really quiet it church. She's never even cried or babbled before. Two Sundays ago, she was sleeping as the congregation began to sing the opening hymn. It's a more modern one and clapping is part of the chorus. Well, about 100 people clapping could startle anyone, especially a sleeping four month old. She woke up scared and screaming. DH immeidately took her out, but I didn't miss some church members shooting us dirty looks.Apparently being "godly" should only take place when it's most convenient for people.
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It is frustrating. So far I haven't really had anything like that happen. Our church doesn't believe in cry rooms therefore we don't have one. Sometimes I think either these people have forgotten what it was like or they don't have children. Thank goodness. I believe that kids need to learn how to behave in church and the only way to do that is to attend. Don't let it bother you. H is doing great.
HBV
The guy says, purposefully loud enough for us to hear him "This is why I hate it when people bring kids to church." WHAT??? :confused:
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Oh I hate people like that. Give me a break!! Cooper is going to go to mass with us EVERY sunday, and he won't go to those little "Sunday Schools" during mass that some of them have either. I think he should be IN MASS with us (just me personally). Anyways, people need to get over it. I personally LOVE going to a church that has noises of children and life....I would much prefer this over dead noise that puts people to sleep. Church should be a community, and children are a vital part of the community. They are the church's FUTURE! Don't get me wrong - there is a line. But for the most part...GET OVER IT!! :)
All of my kids when to church we me. I only remove them if they cried out loud and could not be calmed. I found sitting up front once they got to be around 3 helped. I enjoy all the small children sitting around me. To be truthful, there is only one family that bothers me - Her son gets up and screams as he is running around the church. ANd that is not even the Mother's fault. SHe has 3 small kids by herself.
We are not Catholic either but this guy needs to get a grip! Castle goes to Sunday School for one hour while we teach 5th grade and then if she is doing okay she stays another hour while we attend worship. If she is not doing well we take her to worship with us. We sit on the second row from the front and everybody is great to entertain the little ones in worship. Our pastor has even been known to come down and pick them up during the sermon if they are cranky to give them a change of scenery. We attend a very large church but all the children knows the pastor because he works in the nursery area one sunday a month! We just love our church family!:wings:
I usually go to the 7:30 mass with my DD because it is the best time for her. She is 16 months old and can be loud from time to time, or scream and cry when mean old Mom won't let her run up and down the isle or down the pew. I try to distract her with paper or cheerios and I'm usually successful. If she is particularly bad I bring out the pacifier, which I hate to do. The people at that mass are used to her and sometimes will make comments about her having found her voice but not in a mean way. Most will talk to her afterwards and tell her how cute she is, or shake her hand when they come back from communion. I also believe kids won't learn to behave in church if they don't go. A week ago we went to the 5:00 Saturday night mass. The church was much fuller and we got stuck in the middle of the pew instead of on the end where we usually sit. We also had a woman who thought she could "help" sitting next to us. So when DD starting acting up the "helper" only made it worse by encouraging the bad behavior. I had to tell her to stop and then the harrumphing woman in front of us turned around and said "There is a crying room you know". I turned my sharp eyes on her and said "Yes I know". To which she harrumped again and turned around. After that DD settled down and was back to her normal occasional outbursts. I won't be going back to the 5:00pm Mass anytime soon. I guess some people's kids were perfect angels at that age when they were in church. Mine is not.
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If chidren are not introduced to places such as churches, resturaunts, other public places, how are they going to learn how to act? My family goes to a united methodist church in our little town. Our pastor has children of his own and never discourages anyone from attending church because of child noise / actions... In fact, last Sunday, his own 2 year old daughter went up to him in the middle of the sermon and put her hands up to be picked up. Pastor Scott did not miss a beat, picked her up, continued his sermon and only put her down for communion. I love that family feeling. My husband, who was raised strict Catholic, is slowly getting used to a more contemporary, family feeling church service. This is not for everyone, but it fits our family needs.
This is a good one. First, where did the man learn his Christian values? OK - enough soap box. Let me tell you how our former Pastor handled this one. One Sunday a mother & father of a newborn were particularly frazzled when their little one could not be comforted during the homily. They stood to move to the back section of the Church and our Pastor stopped his homily and spoke directly to them: "Do NOT leave the Mass with that child. He deserves to be here just as much as all the rest so what if he prays on his own schedule!" DD has come to Mass with us every week since she was placed with us and if she does get a bit out of hand and just won't be comforted one of us will quietly take her to the back of the church where we can still participate in the Mass without disturbing those around us. Once she calms down we return to the pew. So far no one has glared at us for taking "too much time" to comfort her. Just my two cents....