#cryroom

Little babies and quiet places hardly mix together very well. Mass time is one of those times when your poise and confidence are out to the test. US churches normally have what people call a #cryroom which is usually a large carpeted room with large windows facing the altar, so that babies, younger children and their caregivers can participate of the mass without disturbing the rest of the congregation...because you know, babies will be babies 😊. The majority of these beautiful older #catholic churches in Pennsylvania do not have cry rooms...so it has taken some adjusting... 🍼We usually review the readings for that Sunday Gospel ahead of time and meditate it in a group call with friends over Skype 💛 (we use usccb.org and watch the reflection video 👍🏻) 🍼We try to take him out to the playground before mass time to tire him up a bit (hoping for less energy for that hour of #catholicmass 🍼We stay in the back and roam around the back entrance area with all the other little ones. 🍼we encourage him to be quiet during the service and make him dance during the songs (cutest thing ever!) ✨what are your #catholicmom Tips for mass time? . . . . . #catholicmoms #toddlersinchurch #stellalandeo #perumates #catholicism #catolicos #practicaltips #cutetoddlers #toddlersinvests #toddlerroom #mamacatolica #niñosenmisa (at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByfQInYAxiI/?igshid=1r924jcuor1lq

It's unfortunate how many of us as parents default to this room as soon as we step into the parish. #CryRoom — As parents, most of us have been in this room during Mass. We hope and pray that we didn't have to, but see, we seem to have given Satan the victory, at a certain level, to not go into the main church at all as a family. We default splitting up sometimes to go into the cry room simply because we have decided to not take up the cross to teach our children the value and virtue of silence. Is it always easy? Hardly ever. But is it attainable? YES. VERY. — What makes it even more of a difficulty is to hear and see priests, those who are supposed to be our shepherds and leaders, tell parents not to bring their children into the main church at all. They want utter and complete silence. They also default them to go into the cry room if they have children that are under a certain age. They become like the disciples and apostles who were stopping the children from coming to the Lord. We all know what ended up happening! But thankfully, I've heard and seen priests, personally tell parents to sit in the very front of the pews so the children can see all that is going on. They don't want them to even think of stepping into in the cry room unless they've first tried being in the main church. — I challenge you, mom and dad, to take up this cross and carry it. Go through the 'passion' of teaching your children the very fruitful practice of silence. It's needed. And they'll thank you for it!!! Remember that we bear the responsibility of forming the next generation to be virtuous and have a heart after Christ and Our Lady. So, let's encourage each to not go into the cry room until we've actually tried to sit in the main church more than a couple of times. 🙏🏽 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvrtrj-n7xa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1td1h0dznu7e3