First Christmas eve mass in ... many years!

[mom2em]

I haven’t been to a Christmas eve mass, in a long time! This year will be my first since returning and my daughters first. She is four years old. She participates some in the mass with responses, prayers and hymns. She will genuflect, bow, etc.

I expect Christmas eve mass to be longer than any other Saturday or Sunday mass. Our secretary told me the other day that I should plan to be there at least 2hrs early to assure a seat. I don’t particularly want to be standing with my daughter, so we intend to go 2hrs early as suggested.

While her behaviour hasn’t been too much of an issue thus far, she’s not been to a long mass nor one with such a wait time before hand. The longest she’s waited before mass began is 30minutes.

Would it be inappropriate for me to take colouring sheets (from Holy Heroes Advent Adventure) and her Christmas books (The Story of Mary, etc)? She could colour, or go through her books while we waited. Or if perhaps she got particularly restless during mass.

What about small, quiet toys? I know that some frown upon that but I’m not looking to let her use those during mass, just that 2hrs before hand. I was thinking of letting her bring along her Fisher Price Nativity people. Not the stable but the people. She loves acting things out. Would something like that be inappropriate?

Have any ideas? Her behaviour is typical to that of any 4 year old. Some days really good, others, you shake your head and blush. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I don’t want to do something thinking it would be okay, but only have someone think we are being entirely disrespectful.

 

[MissRose73]

I would bring a few things that will keep her quiet and occupied before Mass starts that will not bother others nearby. Just before Mass starts, perhaps allowing her to hold onto a doll wrapped in a blanket and ask her to pretend it is Baby Jesus. Yes, Christmas Masses can last longer due to the musical selections, extra things going on during Mass, and the longer Communion lines. If she is a smaller 4 year old, consider her being a lap child if possible as seating is a premium. Of course, arriving early is good. Mark your seats with your coat and hers upon arrival. If she is an active child, and there is a nursery area or similar, take advantage of it for a bit to wear off excess energy before Mass too.

 

[lauraabarlow]

As a mother myself-having one child with autism and the other with adhd and aspergers who otherwise seem to be a normal child with friends-outgoing personality-your ideas are wonderful. People need to understand that children are children-and not expected to be adults. Your ideas are not disrespectful to me, as a matter of fact, very noble. You are still keeping her focused on the meaning of Christmas such as a baby doll being like baby Jesus. Not sure if your daughter is overly active but I brought a small bag of cheerios to help keep my youngest daughter-now 9 yrs old-to keep her blood sugar down and help her stay calm. Remember that 4-yr-old’s attention span is shorter so what you are doing is good. No disrespect to me from what you shared. Jesus even rebuked his disciples when they jumped on the children saying to let the little children come to Him, do not hinder them. He even loved them as they are-good and bad. I think your ideas are good.

 

[puzzleannie]

my sincere suggestion is to start with a Children’s Mass on Christmas eve, if they have that in your area, since the Midnight Mass may be longer than she is ready for. If that is the only option, make sure she has a supper and a nap, and has some quiet toys and books. It is unfair in my opinion so expect a small child to behave in such a controlled environment for hours at a time.

 

[mom2em]

Just wanted to post an update –

we went to mass last night. For the 8pm service. We left at 6pm to make sure we would have a seat. When we arrived, we were the only ones in the church. It was so very quiet. And lovely. We stood outside in the foyer for a bit looking at the stained glass of the Holy family, telling the Christmas story. We went in blessed ourselves, genuflected and visited the manager. Around 7pm others showed up. Emily was terribly well behaved the entire time.

I was SO happy to have gone. If I could have stayed all night I would have!

thanks for all suggestions and comments.

Merry Christmas and may the peace of the Lord be with you all.

 

[corsair]

Now that is a story to"warm the cockels" of me heart. God Bless and Merry Christmas.

 

[Catholicpotato]

my sincere suggestion is to start with a Children’s Mass on Christmas eve, if they have that in your area, since the Midnight Mass may be longer than she is ready for. If that is the only option, make sure she has a supper and a nap, and has some quiet toys and books. It is unfair in my opinion so expect a small child to behave in such a controlled environment for hours at a time.

This is what we do. Our kids are in the Mass and sit up at the altar with the other kids in a “pageant” They are there for the whole Mass and are well behaved. The Bishop talks with them during the homily. The parents in the pews however have not been to Mass in a while… The lady in front of me was texting and playing a video game with her kids and a buch of people wanted to know why our Parish says all the wrong words for the responses… I guess that is what you expect from Christmas Mass. It wasn’t peaceful, but it sure was cute!

 

[thequeen]

So glad that everything went okay and I see no problem in letting her have a soft toy or even a book about the mass or something like that to hold and look at and if people have a problem with it well maybe they should figure out that she is 4 years old not 34 years old and you cannot get upset with a four year for acting like a four year old and by the way welcome back home.

 

[garn9173]

Last night was the first Christmas Eve Mass for me in several years as well. It was a beautiful service. I had been looking forward to last night attending Christmas Eve Mass with my family for a long time.

 

[mom2em]

Just wanted to post an update –

we went to mass last night. For the 8pm service. We left at 6pm to make sure we would have a seat. When we arrived, we were the only ones in the church. It was so very quiet. And lovely. We stood outside in the foyer for a bit looking at the stained glass of the Holy family, telling the Christmas story. We went in blessed ourselves, genuflected and visited the manager. Around 7pm others showed up. Emily was terribly well behaved the entire time.

I was SO happy to have gone. If I could have stayed all night I would have!

thanks for all suggestions and comments.

Merry Christmas and may the peace of the Lord be with you all.

Last night was the first Christmas Eve Mass for me in several years as well. It was a beautiful service. I had been looking forward to last night attending Christmas Eve Mass with my family for a long time.

If at the end of 2011, if someone asked me a favourite memory of the year, that would surely rank to the top. I was retelling it to someone the other night, and in my head it’s still just as fantastic as it was that night.

It was lightly snowing, the lights were off. It was chilly but not freezing. It was all picture perfect!! And I’ve been back to church now for a year! I just noticed the date. Yesterday was a year. Goodness me. I’m so glad that I did it and that I have my daughter with me.

Thank you so much to all the posters. Sure sometimes we might have crazy questions, or ones that would be better asked to someone at our parish or whatever, but your opinions, help, council, everything, it is all appreciated very much! It helped to make the journey back a little easier!

Thank you God! And thank you caf!