On our way to Mass tonight, Zach and I were discussing Tony's bedtime. After the great start to having him sleep in his own bed, things totally backfired. He screams and screams, without any sign of settling down. This week I started sleeping in his room with him to keep him asleep through the night. If I lay down with him on the twin bed, he has no problem getting in bed. Of course, he's sensitive to my movement, so getting up without him waking up is difficult, but I'm glad he's at least sleeping.
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| Holding a Loquat. We found a tree by a playground in South Carolina. They were quite tasty. Seeing them reminded me of my Grandpa - he knew a lot about trees and fruit. |
With that on my mind as we went into Mass, I was feeling like a bad mom. I don't want two kids in our bed, but what do I do if he's going to scream? I can't handle the screaming, and it doesn't have any kind of positive outcome.
Taking him to Mass always feels like a nightmare, too. He loves to talk - purse, Thomas, train, Jesus, Mama. On Sunday we let him bring in two of his Thomas trains. At one point he got mad and threw one of them under the pew. It made a loud noise, and then he was fussing. I wanted to die. If we sit inside the church, we sit in the back row, which makes for an easy escape, but I feel like we're always dragging him in or out. He does best when I bring a snack in, but I'm not always that on top of things...and I question if food and Mass are a good association to be creating? Though, is spending the whole time walking around the back being fussed at any better? Ironically, he behaves better at the Latin Mass than our local Novus Ordo.
Some days I feel like he's never going to learn to be quiet and reverent.
Then walking up to receive Communion tonight, he was holding my hand, instead of being carried, and before I could kneel down in front of the priest, he was already on his knees. Since he had gone down a little too soon, he scooted closer, still on his knees.
I might not know how to fix bedtime, and Mass behavior may need some work, but something is sticking in his little mind.
And for that I said a tearful prayer of thanksgiving.
Wonderful Post! I always love hearing about you and Tony.. It keeps me from missing you so much. :) How was your Mothers day? I guess it's my turn to send a letter! Hope to see you soon. God bless.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Hey Jess,
ReplyDeleteBelive it or not, we used to sit in the front pew. (And I had 3 little boys at the time.) It seemed to help hold their attention better than being in the back where they can't see anything. Now even with the bunch it still helps when they can see. I specifically remember one of the boys throwing a hard cover hymnal over the front pew right in front of Fr. P. while he was giving the homily. I could have died! LOL!
Personally, I would stay away from the food in church, but that is just my opinion. Too many times in more liberal places my kids have had to suffer while some child near them has a picnic at the pew. Also I have had my littles pick up food that someone accidentally dropped. Yuck. There are other reasons as well, but I don't want to turn this comment into a blog post. lol.
God bless,
Kristen
Thanks for the thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI only bring food for him if we're driving to the Latin Mass, or we didn't have time to feed him before the early Mass in town. I don't think there's really a good way to keep him happy in church for the time being - today we ate before Mass, and he was still a terror.
His sleeping is getting better. Naps are hit or miss most days. He's always happier when he naps, but some days he sleeps just long enough that he won't settle down in the afternoon. I'm taking what I can get for the time being, and trying not to over-worry about it.