Mass is pretty hit or miss these days. Ellen has been doing surprisingly well, but Sam and his weird digestive issues have us running for the bathroom once or twice an hour. It’s, you know, fun.
And, like any other parent who wishes to a least hear an “Amen” during the service, we pack a little Mass bag. Here is what it looks like lately:
- a diaper for each kid and a small case of wipes
- knot rosary: Mike and I both received one during our wedding Mass, and now I buy them for the kids for their Baptisms.
- a couple of Catholic books: This stops Ellen from ripping up the hymnals. Why is she so two?
- keychain of prayer cards: check out the fool-proof directions here
- no snacks: I’m not against snacks in church, it’s just that I think Ellen can handle Mass without them now, so we’re trying. Trying.
Most of the time, I am quietly whispering in Ellen’s ear trying to explain parts of the Mass and keep her interested, but there are times when that’s just not going to happen, so the bag makes an appearance. Our lovely, wonderful bag.
What’s in yer bag? Or are your kids really well-behaved? How do you get some of those kind of kids?
Ella gets to carry a small purse of her own that she puts one beanie baby in. A friend of mine is a former collector, so she is gifted a plush toy quarterly… She seems to enjoy whispering to the animal about mass and entertaining it quietly during the eucharist. If we are at the end of the line leaving the church, she will show what she ahs brought to Fr. Davis, and he usually does or says something to the toy that makes her day.
She is FOUR and almost always high octane. If we can, we throw in a hefty dose of exercise before church.
They need to put in a track around churches so kids can run laps before Mass…
This is great… We never used Mass bags, but I know a few people who do now, and they have pretty much the same thangs. They don’t do snacks either, and I probably wouldn’t… I just think it makes going to church too “normal,” which it is in a sense, for Catholics, but at the same time, it’s a very special occasion, and I don’t think the littles should be munching away. Harder to concentrate on what’s happening. Just my two cents. ;)
Yes. Agreed. When she was really little and couldn’t understand waiting when hungry, we brought something quiet. Now, she understands needing to wait, so we just bring something for the car ride if we know we will be out and about after Mass.
We don’t do a bag, but I’m not really opposed. I remember reading those little books as a kid, and loved them! They were our special Mass books, too. :) I’m planning on finding some for my girls. I love the prayer card idea! I bet I could scrounge up a few for Grace!
Ha! I was doing the same thing. I went through old books and drawers knowing I had them laying around somewhere ;)
You BUY knot rosaries? I can totes show you how to make them! So simple!
Our bag looks pretty much like yours, but we have added the children’s bulletins and coloring pages from CatholicMom.com. They’re nice because they follow the lectionary and the front panel always has the Psalm response to trace and color. Now that my five-year-old is doing them, my two-year-old twins want them, too, so we always print three copies. :-)
That prayer card keychain is so genius! Thanks for the link. My oldest gets Magnifikids, so the babies “read” her old ones and we spend some time in the narthex. The babies have a fascination with the holy water, and as long as they keep their hands out of their mouths, I let them dip their hands and practice the sign of the cross. Two year-old has it just about down.
We used the keychain at Mass today and she was alllll over it :)
That prayer card ring idea is AWESOME. So doing that!
Works like a charm! And, I had fun picking out Saints that I love :)
I ran out to buy prayer cards and rings today. The Catholic supply store is next to a hobby lobby! It’s fate, I said. Then I came home and hunted high and low for my hole punch. It’s apparently in some box in our storage unit in Michigan six hours away. Sigh.
Wait, Michigan? Did I know this? Am I just having a brain fart??
Are ya’ll in Michigan too?? Mutual brain fart :-D. We are in Louisville until sometime next year, but then we’ll move back to somewhere in the Detroit area (and reunite with all our stuff!). We lived in Canton MI before we moved in August. Where are you guys located?
Just now putting together our Mass bag. Lots of Catholic books, wooden rosary and I found these vinyl figurines on Amazon of Mary and a few saints. Eventually want to add a priest and nun doll and a Mass kit. :)
We think Catholic Child’s Mass Tote and included goodies are sure to keep small hands content during Mass :) http://bit.ly/1gdg9XZ