My Broken Fiat
  • Blog
  • About / Contact Me
    • My 'Reversion'
    • Why "MyBrokenFiat?"
  • The Archive
  • Prayers
  • Blog
  • About / Contact Me
    • My 'Reversion'
    • Why "MyBrokenFiat?"
  • The Archive
  • Prayers

Screaming Child @ Mass

2/2/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
This looked a lot like my son on Sunday.  Since I've begun taking him regularly, he's been perfectly fine.  He usually is quite good, and is even starting to pick up on when he is allowed to stand and sit in my lap and such.Well, this past Sunday, he was an absolute terror.  He screamed (and I mean, SCREAMED) for most of the Mass.  I have NO idea what got into him, and even being in the "cry room" wasn't helping.  I'm sure we could've been encased in a sound-proof box within three others, and they still could've heard him!

It was absolutely cringe-worthy for me, but I took it as a penance (considering how mortifying it is to have such a loud child and seem like a complete failure as a mother).  Seriously - his screaming and behavior were unlike anything I'd ever seen from him, so I couldn't help but think God had gone, "Alright - here's a chance to test your patience!"

Luckily, the words of that wonderful confessor came back to me:  This is your prayer life.  Raising this little boy should be your constant prayer life.

So I tried to swallow the irritation, frustration and embarrassment and offer it up for whatever intentions Jesus needed attending to. 

However, all week I've been getting snide comments about his behavior.  Before and after CCD class on Tuesday, a few of the staff approached and commented "What on EARTH got into your son at Mass?"

At a meeting, I got the same questions.

Heck, even after the Mass on Sunday, a few of the parishoners who know me eyed him with disgust and mentioned I should maybe bring crackers to "keep his mouth occupied" next time, or, better yet, just "leave him home" next time.

ARGH!

SERIOUSLY?!  Maybe it wasn't Vince's behavior that God chose to give me a test of patience.  It was simply the catalyst for these folks taking it upon themselves to comment in so ludicrous a manner.

Argh, argh, argh. 

Considering how often they've all seen Vincent acting the angel at Mass, you'd think they'd've said to themselves "Obviously he's having a bad day or something."

No, we automatically get things like "teach him that snacks during Mass are A-OK!" or "if you cry hard enough, Mommy will take you home and you'll get your way!"

Cmon now, people!

Sorry for what seems to be a random venting, but I just got a follow-up e-mail from a parishioner regarding an upcoming function, and her "PS" was dedicated to such tips as "coloring books" "puppets" and "goldfish" as viable alternatives to the random outburst.

Hurumph.

He hasn't needed it these last few months, why the heck would I need to start instilling bad habits now? 

... sorry... apparently I'm not very good at learning this whole charitable patience stuff.  But seriously... *grumble, grumble, grumble*



2 Comments
Nicole P.
2/3/2012 01:03:56 am

Trust me, there are some people who will always feel that kids of a certain age shouldn't be in Mass. I take Eli to Mass with me every week, and while I try to keep her quiet, Miss Congeniality feels the need to say hello to everyone in a 3 pew radius, and sing Alleluia when the Spirit strikes. She doesn't cry and is quiet for the most part, but a few Sundays ago, this provoked a few of the people sitting around us to cast her some dirty looks and move farther down the pew from us. I could only imagined what would have happened if she screamed.

And bringing toys and snacks will most likely do nothing, as I've brought snacks and quiet books for her to stay quiet with, and she ends up entertaining herself by stacking the hymnals over and over.

Unfortunately, most people seem to forget that toddlers are just that- toddlers! Not that long ago, people would've been amused for our kids to cry in Mass, but suddenly once they start walking, they think they're now just miniature adults and should act as such. I take it with a grain of salt and see it the same way you did- God decided to test my patience that day- and that's exactly what I tell people :)

Reply
Katherine link
2/3/2012 04:38:14 am

I'm so sorry your son had such a rough Sunday and you've had a rough week since.

I think some people feel like, if they say something, then they can pat themselves on the backs that they have done something. I remember once, we were on an airplane and the captain apologized that the A/C wasn't working but they were working on it. My mom heard him loud and clear but she rang the call button to complain about the heat anyway. She is that type of person. If she says something, then she feels like she has *done* something about the situation.

Unfortunately, when it comes to kids, many people are just as thoughtless when they decide they *need* to say something and can sometimes say the most idiotic things. It can be insulting, but mostly I marvel at their stupidity and it does motivate myself to raise children not half so dim-witted as to not think before they speak.

If adults are allowed to have bad days, what makes them think kids aren't?

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Top Rated Entries

    My Darkest Secret

    Do Animals Have Souls?

    10 Things a Parent of an SPD Kid Wants to Say

    Fun and Easy Lenten Crafts

    Tattoo Taboo

    Blessed Mother as Intercessor

    Loss of Life

    Women Priests II

    Animal Sacrifices

    Render Unto Caesar

    Veiling

    The Godparent Poem

    Broken Friendships

    Miscarriage Reflection

    NYT Anti-Catholic Ad

    Categories

    All
    180
    Abortion
    Adoption
    Adoration
    Adultery
    Agnosticism
    Angels
    Animals
    Annulment
    Apparitions
    Art
    Atheism
    Bahamas
    Baptism
    Blessed Mother
    Blessed-mother
    Blogging
    Books
    Boycott
    Breastfeeding
    Bullying
    Cafeteria Catholic
    Cafeteria Catholics
    Cats
    Ccd
    Celibacy
    Chaput
    Children
    Christmas
    Churches
    Confession
    Conscience
    Contests
    Contraception
    Cookies
    Corapi
    Crafts
    Creation
    Cross
    Defense Of Faith
    Depression
    Divine Mercy
    Divine Providence
    Divine-providence
    Divorce
    Dolan
    Donation
    Dreams
    Easter
    Education
    Eucharist
    Euthanasia
    Evangelization
    Family
    Feasts
    Food
    Forgiveness
    Free Will
    Friendship
    Fun
    Gaza
    Guest Post
    Hat Tip
    Health Care
    Heaven
    Hebrew
    Hhs
    Holy Week
    Homeschooling
    Homily
    Homosexuality
    Illumination
    Incarnation
    Incorruptibles
    Indulgences
    Infertility
    Inspiration
    Intentions
    Intercession
    Intercessions
    Interview
    Islam
    Jewelry
    Kidney
    Komen
    Language
    Lawsuit
    Lbm
    Lent
    Lightbulb Moments
    Liturgy
    Mandate
    Marriage
    Martyrs
    Mass
    Media
    Medjugorje
    Mercy
    Mexico
    Miracles
    Miscarriage
    Moderation
    Moses
    Motherhood
    Music
    Myla
    Nuns
    Old Testament
    Parenting
    Parishes
    Pedophilia
    Pentecost
    Persecution
    Personal
    Philadelphia
    Philly
    Pilgrimage
    Planned Parenthood
    Poetry
    Politics
    Poll
    Pope
    Prayer
    Pregnancy
    Priests
    Prophecy
    Propoganda
    Purgatory
    Question Box
    Quick Takes
    Random
    Recipes
    Reflections
    Relics
    Religious Freedom
    Reviews
    Ridiculous
    Rosary
    Sacrament
    Sacrifice
    Saint
    Saints
    Scandal
    School
    Science
    Seed
    Sewing
    Sexuality
    Sin
    Social Issues
    Social Issues
    SPD
    Spiritual Dryness
    St Anthonybd986ec1d5
    Steubenville
    Suffering
    Tattoos
    Terrorism
    TLM
    Triduum
    Trinity
    Trust
    Twa
    Vatican
    Veiling
    Veils
    Vincent
    Visionaries
    Wedding
    Women Priests

    Pages I Stalk

    A Woman's Place
    Dymphna's Road
    Real Catholic Love & Sex
    Having Left the Altar
    Fr. Z @ WDTPRS
    Spirit Daily
    These Stone Walls
    St. Joseph's Vanguard
    Catholic Sistas
    Catholic Icing
    Liturgical Time
    Traditional Latin Mass
    Shameless Popery
    Life Victorious
    Catholic Dads
    S'aint Easy
    Truth, Beauty and Goodness
    The Way Out There
    Written by the Finger of 
       God
    Little Catholic Bubble
    So You're a Church Musician
    There and Back Again
    Make It - Love It
    St. Monica's Bridge
    Seeking Renewal 
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    October 2005

    RSS Feed

Copyright 2021