Anonymous
Post 04/04/2013 06:17     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Just tell the mother she is not welcome with her child, and give the kid a lifetime ban
Anonymous
Post 04/03/2013 13:25     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Well, if Jesus came to save the sinners, then brats are welcome
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2013 14:26     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well, did Jesus not say 'let the children come to me', or was he only talking about the quiet ones?


Hahaha! April Fools!
?
I do not understand. Was Jesus wrong?


No, the post about the OP's kid being a brat by melting down in the sanctuary was a joke.
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2013 14:20     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well, did Jesus not say 'let the children come to me', or was he only talking about the quiet ones?


Hahaha! April Fools!
?
I do not understand. Was Jesus wrong?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2013 19:28     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare


I'm the PP who said I feel like an interloper. This is the kind of attitude I'm talking about! I go to church sporadically, I will admit it - but when I do go, even on non-holidays, no one says "hi, welcome! By the way, most people with toddlers sit in the annex" or "good morning! may we join you?" or anything, i mean ANYTHING to make it less awkward. Why must people be so cold? I worry that it's something about me - like I look grouchy or scary or something - and my DH has admitted to me that he feels the same.



I am the OP. I hear you. Before we had children we always went out of our way to engage the couples with LO's. We knew we would be them one day and the people muttering and rolling their eyes don't help. It is hard to be in church with a child. Even the best child will act up; an hour or more is a very long time for a child to sit still and be quiet in the best of circumstances and parents do try very hard to keep them in line. It's a tension - do I take my child and risk bothering people or stay home and be derelict in bringing them up in the church as I vowed to do? We choose to go and make the best of it (although we may be rethinking this on the major holidays until he's older and can deal with the crowds.) I'm very sorry that you don't feel welcome wherever you are going. Have you tried introducing yourselves to those around you? I've found that people will reciprocate if you initiate. Perhaps it's hard for you to do the initiating? I've been that person too, and it's hard.


Thanks OP, and the other PP who responded, for your nice replies. Yes, it's as you described. I certainly don't want to go to church without my DD for just the reason you highlighted- I committed to raising her in the church. And I'm definitely an introvert, but you're right - I need to make the effort to reach out. It feels weird to ask people about the other types of events going on given our lack of steady attendance and contribution to holding the events, which I guess is why I wish people "in the know" would extend a welcome. Still, it's not an excuse for me to be standoffish.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2013 19:15     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Anonymous wrote:Well, did Jesus not say 'let the children come to me', or was he only talking about the quiet ones?


Hahaha! April Fools!
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2013 18:53     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Well, did Jesus not say 'let the children come to me', or was he only talking about the quiet ones?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2013 16:07     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, PP - you called her kid a brat. That's nice. Ever taken a kid to church?


Yes, many times and never let her melt down in the sanctuary.


"Let her?" OMG you are too much. I'm sure there's a special place in heaven for you since you're so perfect and all.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2013 15:30     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, PP - you called her kid a brat. That's nice. Ever taken a kid to church?


Yes, many times and never let her melt down in the sanctuary.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2013 14:55     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Yeah, PP - you called her kid a brat. That's nice. Ever taken a kid to church?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2013 14:53     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP should have stayed home. I'll bet her brat ruined the service for the other worshippers nearby.


Oh yeah, my kid was the only one who had a melt down.


No, but you re the one judging others. You were sitting there resenting other families for making your experience less pleasant when your own child was making it unpleasant for others.


Not really judging or resenting actually. Just lamenting that the services at my church are so crowded on the major Holy Days of Obligation that you really get nothing out of it. But you sure are doing a whole lot of judging. I admit I didn't express myself well yesterday - I was venting. But you seem to be coming back just to be nasty, so really, who are you to judge me?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2013 14:30     Subject: Well, church was a nightmare
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP should have stayed home. I'll bet her brat ruined the service for the other worshippers nearby.


Oh yeah, my kid was the only one who had a melt down.


No, but you re the one judging others. You were sitting there resenting other families for making your experience less pleasant when your own child was making it unpleasant for others.