What to do about rude parishioners? v. my parrot

[Phemie]

I wonder why there was in my day. Must have been some magic ‘formula.’

When you were growing up did parents bring babies to church? They didn’t where I came from back in the 50s and early 60s. An infant or toddler at Mass was a novelty. Parents started bringing kids to church around the age of 4 when they could already sit for an hour at a time.

My cousins babysat us while our parents went to Mass or one parent went to he Low Mass and one went to the High Mass.

I’m not saying that was best, I brought my own children from the time they were babes in arms, I’m just saying that that was not the norm where I grew up.

 

[puzzleannie]

We claim to be prolife…yet some don’t want to see or support those who choose life, even if that busy little life can be loud at times. …

Life is precious. Life can be loud. Embrace it. Even Jesus wanted the Children to come to Him.

quite frankly I agree with this sentiment, the presence of children of all ages at Mass is most definitely a pro-life issue. A church that insists on openness to life in marriage has to be open to the fruits of that policy at all times and places. yes there is a learning curve, and yes some parents may find it better, for their family, at certain times (about 15 to 30 months for some pre-schoolers) to alternate mass times so they themselves get a break, but that is a choice they make for the good of the child and their own well-being. Our former bishop discouraged adding cry rooms because he too was of this mind.

 

[Santi2]

I wonder why there was in my day. Must have been some magic ‘formula.’

In my family, the “magic formula” was courtesy of our big sister. She pinched when we misbehaved in Church.

 

[Tigg]

I think much of the fault lies with a society today that does not discipline children even at home, much less teaching them how to behave in public. There seems to be a general in-your-face attitude anymore and people are just not considerate of others, nor aware of socially accepted behavior.

That being said, however, children are an important part of our community. But parents, could you please pick the cheerios up out of the pews before you leave, along with the used kleenex and pacifier that has dropped to the floor unnoticed? Thank you!

 

[happymommy]

Let me tell you, seriously, my plan for my own children I hope to have someday. I’ll get them baptized and, until they are old enough to I don’t know, speak full sentences, leave them in the care of a babysitter for ~2 hours on sunday. I hope to use the mass during those years as a quiet time to spend worshipping with my wife. Maybe we could do something wild like have brunch and a normal conversation together afterwards. When they are old enough, if they start misbehaving and refuse to listen, I will snatch them up and walk out until they calm down. I plan to sit in the very back to facilitate this process, which seems like a minimally considerate thing any parent of young children should do. I know I won’t be able to eliminate disruptions or bad behavior, but I have an obligation to minimize any negative effects my child has on other people.

I tell you what, you have a couple of kids and see how your plan works out and get back to us
You wait until they can be seen and not heard and you will have kids that will not ever want to go to church with you…have fun with that!

 

[happymommy]

When I married my husband we signed a contract within the Catholic Church saying we promised to be open to children and to bring them up in the Catholic faith. So while you may have an obligation to minimize negative effects for others, I have an obligation to bring my child up in the Catholic Faith. And I’m pretty sure my obligation takes precedence over yours.

In my experience it is better to start bringing your child to Mass from birth, so when they get to the “constructing full sentences” they aren’t using those words to point things out at Mass that they haven’t seen before, because they’re used it. Unless my child is incredibly distressed, they will sit with me for the entire Mass, because even though they may not understand it, they need to be at Mass and hear the Word of God just as much as I do. And if I’m going to be standing outside or in a “cry room” because my child is a bit whingy, then I would have been better off staying at home. And I didn’t think the Catholic Church was about excluding people, especially because they have children.

 

[Chatter163]

I knew when I read that that is was some sort of a late April Fool’s joke, for sure, or possibly an early Easter prank? When I realized that it was a way to make a point about the behavior of small children in church, I wondered about the methodology involved. Point is well taken, though not necessarily the method of delivery.

 

[ProVobis]

Because he’s young and liable to get into any kind of trouble at home, I have to bring my parrot, Ted, to mass with me. He sometimes gets bored and rambunctious during the service, so I bring snacks and toys for him to play with.

Must say, very effective way of making a point.