Interesting conversation over at Catholic Dads

My favorite:

“What’s this, then? The selfishly child-free yuppie mass?”

:)

I try to avoid using them because they are often used to let kids simply run around and for some parents to catch up on their weekly scoop. Besides, I have gotten MUCH better behavior out of my kids by taking them TO the main mass and using the back of the church rather than the cry room.

Let the little ones come to me ... - Jesus

IMHO people are more tolerant of wiggly children than parents might think. Nothing gives me greater hope than to have a little old lady walk up to me and tell me my kids were great when I thought they were difficult. Fact is, when I am standing in the back with the baby while my wife has the other three, I cannot hear them at all. To us they sound like jets flying over at 500 feet but to the people around us, they really are not nearly as loud. Over the years I have learned better what IS worthy of correction, leaving or whatnot. Its more than you initially think when you have your first child in mass.

I have seen exceptions to the compassion I typically hear but the way I see it the fault for that lies in Catholics antagonistic towards children failing to understand the plight of those of us who have children. They can have their pious frowns and their slightly imperfect masses. My children will be in mass.

Our hardest child at mass is 14 months old. The rest may ask to go to the bathroom more than I would like but they are generally well behaved. After all, we made it through an Easter Vigil service with all four (ages 6,4,3 and 1). For once I felt triumphant as a parent -- never fear, God always keeps me humble. My children really are getting it about mass.