On Cry Rooms

So I've been thinking a lot about cry rooms lately, as I've been trying to attend more daily masses with my beautiful, yet talkative 2 year old. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a cry room is a room usually found at the back of the church where you can take a screaming baby but still see and hear the Mass.

And I am all for them...when you have a screaming baby, or sick and whiny child, or a toddler having a temper tantrum, etc.

But, there are some misuses of cry rooms that make me cringe. First of all, I do not like when people with kids just use the cry room so that they don't have to teach their children to sit still and be quiet at Mass. How are these kids going to learn proper Mass behavior, when they are allowed to run around and talk all during Mass? Yes it's difficult to keep your kids perfect during Mass, but they do not have to be perfect. You can give them snacks and books and quiet toys while they learn to whisper and follow the whole sit/stand/kneel/stand/kneel/walk/sit dance ;)

Secondly, I'm really shocked that people choose what church they will attend based on if they have a cry room or not. Really? Is that what your faith means to you...that you'd rather have a weak pastor, or a weak community in your Parish just because they have a cry room? We picked our parish because of the Pastor, and his traditional, straight-forward theology. We had 4 kids within 5 years - and we have no cry room. So we made due - sometimes we use the sacristy to calm a noisy child. Other times, a quick walk to the back of the church does the trick. But picking your church based on the cry room? Well that's like picking your spouse based on the car they drive.

And most importantly, I can not stand it when adults without kids sit in the cry room. Ummmm, are you planning on yelling obnoxiously in the middle of the Consecration? No? Then go sit back in the pews with the rest of the adults. Why do they do this? It's not even because the pews are too full...they arrive early and choose to sit there. I don't get it. Then, when I am in there with a crying baby, they look at me like "Could you please leave....you're disturbing me". Hello?!?! It's a cry room!!! That's the purpose!

Phew! Now I feel better after getting that off my chest. Let me hear your thoughts - I have a feeling some of you might disagree ;)

Hi Lo: January 8th

HI's:

1) A new year = a fresh start. This week, I got back to eating better and keeping up the house after the holidays.

2) I've been increasing my exercise lately. I used to go on long runs a couple days a week but since it's so cold/snowy/icy I've just been doing classes at the gym instead. Well, I don't want to lose my running skills, so I've been adding 2-3 miles of running on the treadmill before an hour long class. The classes are either kickboxing, kettlebell, or cardio/toning. I hope this will get my body into half-marathon shape by March.

3) My newest nephew, William, will be Baptized tomorrow!

4) Kids are over their colds, thanks be to God :)

5) Went to daily Mass three times this week!!

6) Maggie is really impressing me with her letters and numbers. She just turned 2, and can count to 29, knows a bunch of letters by sight, tells me how to spell her name, and is starting to ask what sounds the letters make. Now if only she was this enthusiastic about potty training!

LO's:

1) Kids had colds earlier in the week. Sick kids = lack of sleep = miserable attitudes = grumpy Mom.

2) Lots of snow and cold weather around here.

3) Back into the early morning school/work routines....vacation is so nice, and too short!

What were your ups and downs of the week?

Thursday Top Ten

Is it wrong to want a baby just so that I can:

1) Name him or her? (I love thinking of baby names!)

2) Put one of those baby tickers on my blog?

3) See what the baby would look like?

4) Not have to suck in my belly?

5) Have grandchild #20 for my parents?

6) Choose godparents?

7) Get a maternity leave from work?

8) Buy bunkbeds?

9) Smell that sweet warm newborn scent?

10) Give Maggie a sister (but there's no guarantees on that one)?

Maybe I ought to wait until I have some better reasons....

Wordless Wednesday: Whaling Museum with Nana & Gramps

Gratituesday: January 5th

I am grateful today for my kids and the things they come up with.

For example:

~

John-Paul: I wrote down my homework in my "bagenda".

(He means his planner...I guess he's trying to call it an agenda)

~

Andrew: (Upon seeing a picture of our family on my computer) Is that there so you don't forget us?

(So sweet!)

~

Eamon: Can we hear the Little Cat Chewy song?

('The Chattahoochee' by Alan Jackson)

~

Maggie: Knock knock.

(Who's there?)

Cow.

(Cow who?)

Moo.

(I don't know why but it makes me laugh every time!)

~

John-Paul: MOM! I have maracas in my foot!!

(His foot fell asleep)

~

What are you thankful for today?

It's Monday...

...enough said!

Hope your day is going better than mine :)