Totally embarassed at Mass on Sunday

[kristie_m]

Children are so great for teaching us humility.

My little one was sitting quietly during the Eucharistic prayers when he was two. Right when Father said, “Jesus broke the bread and said to His Apostles…” my son chimed up, “I think I can, I think I can!” I nearly died from embarassment and holding back my laughter.

And just this summer, at the ripe and wisened age of five, he tried to join me at the ambo while I was cantoring the Psalm. With no other adult there to run interference, I just had to subtly wave him off without missing a beat (literally ).

I love it when people bring their kiddos to Mass. And believe me, I love it even more when those kids act up a bit. DH and I just look at each other and smile…for once, it’s not OUR kids!

 

[Debra_C]

So, our church is undergoing some renovations, so last Sunday and for the next few Sundays, Mass will be held in the gym of the school.
So, of course, there’s no cry room.
I still thought ‘Well, I should still at least give it the old college try’ with my twin two year olds.
I was VERY excited that they had made it all the way to the consecration of the Eucharist!
They just sat with their books, and I gave them each a sucker, and they were doing very well, until…
Father held up the chalice and Twink #2 yelled ‘WATER!’ and started booking it up towards the altar. I knew her plans - she does the same thing at home - she was going to make a grab for that chalice!
I had Twink #1 on my lap so it took me a second to get the one of my lap and get after the other one. So, I grab Twink #2 and start heading back to our chairs and now Twink #1 thinks this is positively THE BEST game ever and runs up one of the side aisles screaming ‘ME THIRSTY!’, so now I’m dragging Twink #1 across the floor in an effort to get to Twink #2 before she does the same thing.
So, now I have them both by the hands, and they’ve lost it, it’s game over for us, there’s no ‘sitting’ that’s going to take place now.
We can’t leave the building - my purse and their bag o’ diapers are still in our chair, so I take them down the hallway.
Then sister came and tried to help us by opening up one of the classrooms for us. She opens the door and what do we see, but two TRAMPOLINES!!
I was able to flip those upside down and the girls just kind of bounced off the walls in the room until Mass was over and then we went back in and gathered our stuff, but still…
I think while the church is under renovation it will be a good time for me to visit some of the OTHER area churches - with a cry room!!!

I’m so totally in this with you. We have four, the littlest two being a very hyper and rambunctious 3 and our first baby boy, now 8 months. We went through this last fall at our parish while I was still pregnant, only the renovations took months. It got even more difficult once the baby was born and we were still in the gym.

Our biggest probems were that the gym water fountains were visible during mass, and I couldn’t convince the 3 year old and her older sister that this was not the time to play in them. Also, they were using the bleachers for seating. We made the mistake of sitting there once when we arrived a little late. BIG mistake. She thought it such fun to stomp up and down the bleachers. It sounded like thunder. When I stopped her there was a tantrum. We ended up sitting outside on a bench while my husband and the other kids went to Mass.

I know it is trying-- hang in there and God bless!

 

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

How funny. If I had been there, I probably would have gotten up to catch one of them for
you. So far, little kids come to me without crying, probably can sense that I love kids.
(None of my grandkids are around, they live out of town.)
When my twins (now grown and also girls) were about 18 months old, I walked out to say
good bye to our guests and the twins were beside me. All of a sudden, without a word,
they took off for the busy street, each in a different directions. I couldn’t think which way
to go so I yelled," STOP " at the top of my lungs and they both immediately stopped in
their tracks. I don’t think I have ever yelled so loud in my whole life! Probably was the
closest to having a heart attack, too.! LOL

This is what happens when I don’t read my posts!! I forgot to say that when I yelled
“STOP” it was an instinct, I’m sure glad it wasn’t in church with both of them running to the doors. (There are a lot of steps and a busy street at the bottom.)

 

[johnnykins]

Some years ago I was in Paris at Mass. Since my wife was singing with the choir, I stepped into a pew in the back. In the pew immediately in front of me was a mom with a 3 -4 year old boy. Naturally, he was antsy, and all the old folks in the surrounding pews were glaring at him clearly trying to support mom in her efforts to keep him under control. At the start of the first reading dad comes in and there was a slight reprieve. Soon, however, sonny boy started up again. Dad swooped him up and as he did the little boy’s hands moved to cover his behind. I nearly choked. The old lady next to me shot the boy a glare. It was discipline by the entire parish.

All of us who have kids have been there. Thanks for your story and reminding me of that Mass in Paris.

 

[johnnykins]

BTW just wait until they are a little older and you get audible gems when all is silent such as: “If Jesus is God, why did He let them kill him?” My eldest asked that in the middle of Mass. We were near the front and Father clearly heard and saw everything. After Mass he simply asked me, “Well, you got an answer?”

 

[PJM]

So, our church is undergoing some renovations, so last Sunday and for the next few Sundays, Mass will be held in the gym of the school.
So, of course, there’s no cry room.
I still thought ‘Well, I should still at least give it the old college try’ with my twin two year olds.
I was VERY excited that they had made it all the way to the consecration of the Eucharist!
They just sat with their books, and I gave them each a sucker, and they were doing very well, until…
Father held up the chalice and Twink #2 yelled ‘WATER!’ and started booking it up towards the altar. I knew her plans - she does the same thing at home - she was going to make a grab for that chalice!
I had Twink #1 on my lap so it took me a second to get the one of my lap and get after the other one. So, I grab Twink #2 and start heading back to our chairs and now Twink #1 thinks this is positively THE BEST game ever and runs up one of the side aisles screaming ‘ME THIRSTY!’, so now I’m dragging Twink #1 across the floor in an effort to get to Twink #2 before she does the same thing.
So, now I have them both by the hands, and they’ve lost it, it’s game over for us, there’s no ‘sitting’ that’s going to take place now.
We can’t leave the building - my purse and their bag o’ diapers are still in our chair, so I take them down the hallway.
Then sister came and tried to help us by opening up one of the classrooms for us. She opens the door and what do we see, but two TRAMPOLINES!!
I was able to flip those upside down and the girls just kind of bounced off the walls in the room until Mass was over and then we went back in and gathered our stuff, but still…
I think while the church is under renovation it will be a good time for me to visit some of the OTHER area churches - with a cry room!!!

God bless you and the “Twinks” your doing a great job!

Love and prayers from a grandpa:thumbsup:

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

I’m told when I was three, I was being super-antsy in Church and my folks were trying to keep me from sneaking out of the pew. Read “both my mom and my dad had to grab me and hold me down” :: laughs:: In the middle of this, I called out “Help, save me!” The priest even said something about this, right after the final blessing, something like “It couldn’t be a better place to ask to be saved.”

 

[Gertabelle]

I’m told when I was three, I was being super-antsy in Church and my folks were trying to keep me from sneaking out of the pew. Read “both my mom and my dad had to grab me and hold me down” :: laughs:: In the middle of this, I called out “Help, save me!” The priest even said something about this, right after the final blessing, something like “It couldn’t be a better place to ask to be saved.”

Help! Save me!

Too funny!

 

[Jon_S]

That story is awesome.

 

[Jennifer_G]

So, our church is undergoing some renovations, so last Sunday and for the next few Sundays, Mass will be held in the gym of the school.
So, of course, there’s no cry room.
I still thought ‘Well, I should still at least give it the old college try’ with my twin two year olds.
I was VERY excited that they had made it all the way to the consecration of the Eucharist!
They just sat with their books, and I gave them each a sucker, and they were doing very well, until…
Father held up the chalice and Twink #2 yelled ‘WATER!’ and started booking it up towards the altar. I knew her plans - she does the same thing at home - she was going to make a grab for that chalice!
I had Twink #1 on my lap so it took me a second to get the one of my lap and get after the other one. So, I grab Twink #2 and start heading back to our chairs and now Twink #1 thinks this is positively THE BEST game ever and runs up one of the side aisles screaming ‘ME THIRSTY!’, so now I’m dragging Twink #1 across the floor in an effort to get to Twink #2 before she does the same thing.
So, now I have them both by the hands, and they’ve lost it, it’s game over for us, there’s no ‘sitting’ that’s going to take place now.
We can’t leave the building - my purse and their bag o’ diapers are still in our chair, so I take them down the hallway.
Then sister came and tried to help us by opening up one of the classrooms for us. She opens the door and what do we see, but two TRAMPOLINES!!
I was able to flip those upside down and the girls just kind of bounced off the walls in the room until Mass was over and then we went back in and gathered our stuff, but still…
I think while the church is under renovation it will be a good time for me to visit some of the OTHER area churches - with a cry room!!!

Awww. Well, look at it this way, didn’t Jesus say something about whoever drinks the water of life shall not thirst? They were thirsty for that water!

 

[twopekinguys]

I love kids at Mass. In fact, I wish our church didn’t have a cry room at all.

I love it when one child starts to make a little noise in the back, then one on the side joins in, then one in front. It’s like they are starting their own choir.

Bringing kids to Mass, whether they are perfectly behaved or not, is good for all of us. They are the future of keeping our faith alive and well. They will settle down eventually.

 

[maryj]

We need more babies crying and toddlers loose at Mass.

Lots more. Tons more.

Jesus loved the children.

Don’t be embarassed.

That story is great.

God Bless you!

Eddie Mac

Exactly what our priest says at every Mass when children go “children” on you!! We now have a family Mass on Sundays, it is wonderful to see all those young parents with their children.

 

[SElizabeth]

My husband and I have 6 kids. They are mostly grown now, the last is a high school senior. When they were all little (two of them 10 months apart) we used to leave mass exhausted!! Our favorite saying to each other after mass was: "we are going through hell to get to heaven ". But it was all worth it. Their young years went all too fast. Enjoy your kids!!!

 

[Beachcomber]

Thanks for sharing that story. All moms and dads have been right there with you.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

This is hilarious! Maybe next time hold their hands during the entire service.

Sorry, can’t hold hands. There’s nothing in the GIRM that allows for this liturgical innovation…

 

[LookingForFaith]

I know vaugely how you guys felt…I’m not a parent, but one time I was singing in my high school chorus, and we were doing our winter concert and my sister (who is autistic) decided that she needed to see me RIGHT that moment…so she ran right up in the middle of our number and gave me a hug. My dad ushered her away quickly. At the time, I was mortified, but looking back I realize that she did it because she loved me, and wanted to be with me. And it makes me smile.

These stories are great, and I hope my kids are just as spirited as yours someday. Enjoy your kids’ younger years. I just turned 21 and my mom was like “I cannot believe you’re 21 already. The years just flew by.”

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m Our biggest probems were that the gym water fountains were visible during mass, and I couldn’t convince the 3 year old and her older sister that this was not the time to play in them!

DD’s churc in NC has a big baptismal font right at the entrance, with a fountain that runs continually and it has a rim low enough so that children can gather round it to watch baptisms (they do big groups, during Mass, some by immersion, some by pouring). Well no. 1 don’t sit to close to the fountain if you are suggestible–must be why people in that area seem to be continually running back and forth to the bathroom. Second, it is simply irresistable to the 2-3 yr old group. There I times when I do question the wisdom of putting unmarried men w/o kids in charge of planning these things.

Thanks everyone for these stories, keep 'em coming, I need a laugh today. I was going to relate some stories of my own kids and grandkids but still too close to the action, not over it yet (there is a reason we moved out of state).

worst is when the misbehavior is caught on video, like at a wedding, or when people bring it up long after the child has reached teenhood.

 

[Malkin71]

We need more babies crying and toddlers loose at Mass.

Lots more. Tons more.

Jesus loved the children.

Don’t be embarassed.

That story is great.

God Bless you!

Eddie Mac

Yes, I do too, love when families bring their children to Mass. The children are the future of the Catholic Church. Without them there will be no Catholic Church of the future. Our Lord does love the Children. The Gospels confirm it. “More toddlers being loose,” I may not agree. On these threads and this forum there are threads about “Chatting, disruptions during Mass” During the Consecration is the Solemn part of the Mass where the hosts and the wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Savior. This is where our prayers are the strongest according to tradition.

I can see a one time thing or once in a while. Repeat. I can see a one time thing or once in a while. Crying I do also understand. To occur every week is a distraction to others at Mass. We discuss about the lack of reverence and the “happy clappy social atmosphere of Mass” and how can we get the Mass back to be more reverent. How can toddlers running loose about help in making Mass more reverent?

What would happen if a child ran loose and the Blood or Holy Communion would be spilled on the floor?

I remember going to Mass from 1st grade to 12th grade in school. The nuns made sure that we behaved and that were in “God’s House”.

I am not in favor of “cry rooms”. I know of a few Parish’s where they had theirs removed because people went in there to chat. Another post VII good idea invention that leeds to abuse.

I am all favor of bringing babies, toddlers, and children to Mass. When Our Lord said “Let the Children come to me” he was outside in public. The Holy Sacrafice of Mass is the “Last Supper” We have to be respectful too.

 

[Eddie_Mac]

Yes, I do too, love when families bring their children to Mass. The children are the future of the Catholic Church. Without them there will be no Catholic Church of the future. Our Lord does love the Children. The Gospels confirm it. “More toddlers being loose,” I may not agree. On these threads and this forum there are threads about “Chatting, disruptions during Mass” During the Consecration is the Solemn part of the Mass where the hosts and the wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Savior. This is where our prayers are the strongest according to tradition.

I can see a one time thing or once in a while. Repeat. I can see a one time thing or once in a while. Crying I do also understand. To occur every week is a distraction to others at Mass. We discuss about the lack of reverence and the “happy clappy social atmosphere of Mass” and how can we get the Mass back to be more reverent. How can toddlers running loose about help in making Mass more reverent?

What would happen if a child ran loose and the Blood or Holy Communion would be spilled on the floor?

I remember going to Mass from 1st grade to 12th grade in school. The nuns made sure that we behaved and that were in “God’s House”.

I am not in favor of “cry rooms”. I know of a few Parish’s where they had theirs removed because people went in there to chat. Another post VII good idea invention that leeds to abuse.

I am all favor of bringing babies, toddlers, and children to Mass. When Our Lord said “Let the Children come to me” he was outside in public. The Holy Sacrafice of Mass is the “Last Supper” We have to be respectful too.

If you actually think that every now and then a toddler is not going to make a mad dash for whatever is in his/her sights then you know not children.

I am in no way condoning turning children loose during Mass like a playground.

I just like to see the ocassional mad dash up the aisle. It warms my heart.

Eddie Mac

 

[acadian]

Second, it is simply irresistable to the 2-3 yr old group. There I times when I do question the wisdom of putting unmarried men w/o kids in charge of planning these things.

There is a family in our Boy Scout group that adopted a child, and then had another child almost immediately. So they currently have two 3-year olds. The parish that we sometimes attend as a scout troop has one of these types of baptismal fonts. We attended Mass there before our troop left for summer camp.

During the prayers of the faithful, you could tell that Father was looking intently - and not too happily- at something going on in the gathering area. When it was his “turn” we heard, “For the child taking a bath in the baptismal font…that he not go under…we pray to the Lord.”

One of the 3-year olds had escaped…