I haven’t been a Catholic for very long and so I don’t know all the do’s and don’ts just yet. I have small children and I’ve been afraid to take them to church since we don’t have a cry room. I’m trying to start taking them to daily Mass since it’s only thirty minutes long and I need to see if they can tolerate that before we try a Sunday Mass. We went to morning Mass today and I didn’t think. I gave them a sucker to keep them quiet. After Mass Father said they behaved really well but food at church is not acceptable. I guess I’m just wondering if this is our priest’s rule or a Church rule. I realize now that a sucker was a bad idea with the crunching sounds and all. I just feel like I need something in the diaper bag if they get antsy. Would a coloring book or a quiet toy be frowned upon too?
It can indeed be a challenge taking kids to Mass with you. You don’t say how old your children are, but if they were old enough to be eating suckers, I’ll guess that they’re older than three. If that is the case, then they are old enough to begin teaching them that they need to learn to sit quietly sometimes without expecting to be placated with food or other treats. This doesn’t mean that you could not give them a religious-themed doll or book to hold or look at, it just means that they need to understand that sometimes they need to sit quietly even when they’re not being actively entertained. “Antsiness” should be treated as you would any kind of disobedience in a public place (e.g., The Look, The Firm Grip, The Ignoble Exit with the Upset Mama, in ascending order of severity). See the link below for more information.
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