| Author | |
Cici
Forum Pro
Joined: March 03 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 334
|
| Posted: April 28 2007 at 8:39pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
says my 5 yo dd. Do your children say this? How do you respond?
Let me add, in all fairness, that I have not been the most disciplined in attending mass. DH does not attend and with the three now its been such a struggle for me to get them dressed and out the door. That said, I know this is not an excuse and that others manage in similar/more difficult situations...
__________________
Christine - mom to 
My Sewing Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
alicegunther
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1992
|
| Posted: April 28 2007 at 9:23pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I say, "Honey, you are only a small child, and you need to be quiet for a long time at Mass, so it's understandable that you might feel this way, but do you know what? Jesus understands that too. He looks at all the people in the Church and reads their hearts, and he sees that you are there and being good even though you would rather be home playing. He is happy you are making this small sacrifice for Him, and He says to Himself, 'That little child truly loves Me.'" Then I go on to tell the child to do her best to listen and, little by little, she will begin to understand the Beauty and Gift of each Mass, and she won't be bored anymore.
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
      
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
cathhomeschool
Board Moderator
Texas Bluebonnets
Joined: Jan 26 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7303
|
| Posted: April 28 2007 at 9:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
What a beautiful response, Alice!! I think that I'm going to print it out.
__________________
Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: April 28 2007 at 10:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Christine,
You're talking about a 5 year old. I have a 5 yr old and it seems to be the age this protest arises because they are all about playtime and movement. Like Alice said, it is hard for them to be still and Jesus knows this.
I went to a mission this past Lent where a very holy priest was speaking. His talk made me realize I need only read the story of Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gesthemane with them once and, after that when they whine about going to church, tell them:
"Honey, what did Jesus ask of us? Can you not watch one hour with me?"
It isn't you asking this of your child, but the Lord Jesus.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cici
Forum Pro
Joined: March 03 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 334
|
| Posted: April 28 2007 at 10:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Alice that is beautiful - and just the sort of thing my daughter will respond to.
Thank you so much.
__________________
Christine - mom to
My Sewing Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dsauclair
Forum Rookie
Joined: March 26 2006
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 29
|
| Posted: April 29 2007 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you, Alice. Because I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old, I frequently look at the older one as "old enough" to understand, and at the younger one as "still young" (and will tolerate her behavior more).
But I do need to remember that a 5 year old IS still a young child, and an hour feels 'sooooo longggg" (her words).
I had been worried that I have scared her out of church already!
Once more, thanks for the appropriate words to use with her!
--Diane in VA
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
juststartn
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 17 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1321
|
| Posted: April 29 2007 at 7:52pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am so glad of this! I've got a 7, an almost 5, and a 3yr old.....
And I have been needing something like this to tell my middle dd....
Talk about good timing.
Rachel
__________________
Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: April 29 2007 at 7:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I had to laugh at this, CiCi. Nicholas was doing a page in CHC's first speller the other day and it was a fill-in-the-blank thing. He had two words left: "Mass" and "bed." The clue was something along the lines of "The place where you sleep." Guess which one he chose  ?
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cici
Forum Pro
Joined: March 03 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 334
|
| Posted: April 29 2007 at 8:59pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Elizabeth - .
Diane - me too.
Alice - this morning before we left for mass I turned to my daughter and said, "now I know you think mass is boring..." and paraphrased the rest. It was such a joy to see her face - first with the realization I understood. But then, if only you could have witnrssed the joy spread across her face as I told her Jesus understood and was happy for her sacrifice. Thank you, again.
__________________
Christine - mom to
My Sewing Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
alicegunther
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1992
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 6:30am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Cici wrote:
| It was such a joy to see her face - first with the realization I understood. But then, if only you could have witnrssed the joy spread across her face as I told her Jesus understood and was happy for her sacrifice. Thank you, again. |
|
|
How incredible! Thank you for sharing this!
BTW, the first child to hear this speech was my now-thirteen-year-old daughter, Agnes. It just so happens that yesterday, after Mass, she said, "You know, Mommy, I remember when I was very little and I thought Mass was boring. But when you get older and understand what is going on, you realize that it is not boring at all. It is the most interesting thing in the world!"
Isn't it funny that she happened to bring this up just while we are having this discussion? I thought that was so perfect!
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Helen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2826
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 6:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
alicegunther wrote:
Cici wrote:
| It was such a joy to see her face - first with the realization I understood. But then, if only you could have witnrssed the joy spread across her face as I told her Jesus understood and was happy for her sacrifice. Thank you, again. |
|
|
How incredible! Thank you for sharing this!
BTW, the first child to hear this speech was my now-thirteen-year-old daughter, Agnes. It just so happens that yesterday, after Mass, she said, "You know, Mommy, I remember when I was very little and I thought Mass was boring. But when you get older and understand what is going on, you realize that it is not boring at all. It is the most interesting thing in the world!"
Isn't it funny that she happened to bring this up just while we are having this discussion? I thought that was so perfect! |
|
|
This story of Agnes' inspiration to bring up this topic reminds me loudly that we all belong to one family with God as the Father and source of all grace.
I hope this isn't overkill but a few months ago I spent some time with Sunday Mass Preparation with my children.
(This is a link to a blog category so the first post is at the end.)
__________________
Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lorri
Forum Pro
Joined: Dec 21 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 248
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 8:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
When my oldest (8 yo) was little, I heard a lot of people recommend that we sit in the front row during Mass. Well, first of all, I really don't like the front seat. Second, if we sat in the front,then everyone in church would see our dc acting up and it would be such a l-o-n-g walk out when we had to take them out. But you know what - it works! We have to sit in the front pew every Mass now, unless we get bumped by a Baptism. My dc are able to see and hear every thing that goes on and it helps keep their attention. Also, any kind of Mass book for children can help, even if they can't read. I think there is one of those little St. Joseph's books that is a children's missal.
__________________
Lorri
mom to   
The Mac and Cheese Chronicles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Probably at the beach...
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 8:38am | IP Logged
|
|
|
There's a little boy who sits up front at church. We sit in the choir loft, so we have a good view of him. I guess he's three years old. He loves Mass, especially if the music is good (we try!). He has his own set of responses, though. When the priest says, "The Lord be with you!" he answers, "Yaaaay!!!!" And for the psalm...he answers: "e-i-e-i-o!"
__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 9:32am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Just thought I'd mention.....We're using Helen's Mass Prep ideas. They are wonderful and "speak" to the younger ones. I printed them out and every week, I pick just one little thing. There are some very good ideas in there. Thank you, Helen.
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 10:05am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Alice,
That your 13-yr-old dd is able to say what still evades so many adults and evaded some of us until our 20's and 30's is AWE-inspiring.
I believe your little words of wisdom will find it's way into many missals in the next few weeks.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Helen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2826
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 11:52am | IP Logged
|
|
|
SuzanneG wrote:
Just thought I'd mention.....We're using Helen's Mass Prep ideas. They are wonderful and "speak" to the younger ones. I printed them out and every week, I pick just one little thing. There are some very good ideas in there. Thank you, Helen. |
|
|
Thank you Suzanne!
__________________
Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Sharon B.
Forum Newbie
Joined: April 03 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 22
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 12:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have also used Helen's mass preparation ideas and they have really helped. My children are adopted. We brought our most recent placement, a 6 1/2 y/o, into church for the first time and she needed a lot of coaching. It really helped me give her a crash course in catechism/the mass to bring her up to speed.
Also, my late mother-in-law swore by the "first pew". We sit in the row behind the "reserved" pew for the elderly and handicapped. My younger two are still pretty short and get very upset when they "can't see!" They really were blocked at Easter and we NOT happy about it!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: April 30 2007 at 12:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
our church is set up in a not quite half circle.. we sit in the front row on one of the sides.. they can see pretty well.. and we're not in one of the front pews that would get bumped for batisms and such.
But yes, I also found that by sitting in the front row, we had much less acting up and needing to leave. Of course, the church we're in currently even if they did act up and I had to leave, I'd get indulgent smiles at the kids not glares
and it's such a relief also knowing I can get up with the littest ones and leave the older ones there now. They behave pretty well.. but if they didn't, there's a number of people who would help keep them in line. (my dh's work often interfers with his attendance)
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Church is boring...
