Pet Peeve at Church

When we go to church the children and I sit in the "cry room". It is a room that is in the back of the church with windows in it and a speaker so we can see and hear what is going on in church. This way we can actually go to church and our children can learn what church is but we are not disturbing others with crying or talking or playing. This room has been there since before I was born and it even says Cry Room on the door so there should be no question about what the room is for. However almost every week there will be people in there sitting for no reason...no children, babies, etc.

Today when we arrived there was an old woman sitting in a row by herself. Behind her was an old couple. In the front row was a husband and wife with their son (probably a little younger then Roo). We were left with the back row and only two seats. I had to drag a chair from the other row just we would have enough seats. Why would you take an entire row for yourself?! Come on People!!! Anyway my kids and the little boy started playing and talking and checking out each other's toys and books. The old woman got mad and turned up the speaker saying she couldn't hear. About two minutes later she got up again and turned the speaker even louder. The children were NOT being loud. Plus the speaker in the cry room has either been broken or barely working for months now. All you can really hear is the priest. When they are doing readings you can't hear them at all. Finally the old woman got up in a huff and went in to the church to sit. Thank you God! Why sit in the CRY ROOM???? The church is huge! Lots of room! And you have working speakers in there! Why sit in the clearly marked children's room? I don't understand these people. About ten minutes after that the old woman in front of me starting making comments to the old man. I could not hear them but you could tell she was cranky about the kids. And truly the kids were not bad. I don't let them get crazy at church even if we are in the cry room. Finally the old woman turns to me and says that the kids are too noisy and she can't hear what is going on in church. I immediately replied that she should go sit in church since this is the cry room, that it is for the CHILDREN!!!!!! She turned around. That was it. Did she think I would drop on the floor and beg forgiveness? I was glad that my husband was not there. He would have given it to her in much harsher words...course...I kinda wish he was there.

At communion time the old lady said to her husband they weren't coming back the room that they would stand outside. I said good...hope she heard me ;) They made a point of standing in front of the windows so we couldn't see out. Why not sit down? What is wrong with these people?

In our town and church the old people have always hated the children and young people of the church. It has been like this since I was young and probably before. But who do they think is going to keep this church going? Who do they think puts money in the collection each week? Where are the new priests going to come from? We are suffering from a priest shortage and they want to close down two of the three churches in our town (which the oldies are screaming about). We are given a small room that they can barely keep clean and running for us to be able to come to church with our children. How are our children going to learn what church is all about when they are not even wanted? You have a huge church to sit in...for God's sake use it and leave the poor kids alone to learn about church and God from people that are acting in God's love!!!

Anyway...after mass had ended the husband of the couple with the small boy came over to me. He apologized to me for those people! He didn't do it! We chatted about how the children were actually rather tame this week and talked about pretty much everything mentioned above.

The other church was having a pancake breakfast today. We love those! So Henry, Irene and I went. They were very good and ate very well. After we went for a ride. I got the kids juice boxes and we drove through the cemetery. When we got to Grandpa Bill's spot we said hi and Henry offered Grandpa Bill a drink of his juice. It was such a sweet moment. What a sweet, loving child. That reminds me of Friday at the doctor's office. There were a lot of kids there and Henry kept introducing me to the kids and adults. He would say "that's my mommy" to them all. He was so proud and I was so proud of him. What a charmer!!!

Roo is actually saying cheese in this picture.