Spiritual Randomness: 10 Best Practices For Having Children At Mass
 
For my second week of Spiritual Ponderings For September, I would like to pick up where I left off on my reflection on the Ten best practices for having children at Mass.  These ten best practices are not so much my ideas but rather the best practices that good regularly Mass attending families have passed on to me.  I offer them only as advice to make your job as parents easier and in no way as condemnation of any past efforts on your part. 
 
6.  Arrive Early
I grew up in a family of six children and we were always late for everything.  Arriving late seemed to set us up as a family for failure.  Dad would be aggravated that we were late.  We, the children, seem to feed off of the negative energy and tension and thus we felt a need to release it by behaving worse than normal.  Over my thirteen years of priesthood, I have found families who purposely come to Mass early so that each member can get settled in and maybe get that mandatory bathroom visit in find it easier to participate in Mass. 
 
7.  Avoid Bathroom Trips During Mass if Possible
Children will be children and they will do about anything to not sit still therefore if the only thing that will get them out of the pew is a visit to the bathroom they will try to arrange a visit.  Having baby sat my nieces and nephews, I know that one is playing a Russian Roulette type game when a toddler tells you that they have to go to the bathroom.  Remember, I (the priest) am not judging you.  So that is your call.  You know your child better than me.  No one else should be judging you either.
 
8.  Avoid Noisy Toys
I don’t mind it when parents bring toys for their children at Mass but I hope that they do not make any noises.  This is another time where it is important to think like your child.  A hot wheel car may not make any noise on its own but your son or daughter may feel compelled to add their own sound effects each time they move the car along the back of the pew. 
 
9.  Avoid Food
A small confession, I have over the years come to dislike the idea of bringing food for children to Mass especially little cheerio type foods.  I know that this is because I am tired of having to clean up all the crumbs and soggy cheerios left behind by a child. 
 
10.  Clean Up After Yourself. 
It is always appreciated if people leave a place that they are at better then when they found it.  Please make sure you wipe up any spills, cheerios, etc.  If you want to go the extra mile take time to straighten out the book racks for your pew. 
 
*Bonus
Make sure that the practice of your faith is something you do throughout the week and not just on Sunday.  A child will make the connection between the Sign of the Cross at the beginning of a prayer before a meal and the Sign of the Cross at Mass.  He will learn that praying requires silence if he is required to be silent in prayer before bed time.  Above all come!!!
 
I am going to conclude today with five quotes about children…

1.  "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."— Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa

2.  "Children need models rather than critics."   — Joseph Joubert, French moralist

3.  "Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate."   — Anonymous 

4.  "Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see."   — John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the U.S.

5.  It's the greatest poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." — Mother Teresa