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This quote immediately made me think of my kids. How many times do my kids do things that makes me immediately react with rage? I would say this happens at least once an hour and 20 times an hour during Mass. So this leads me to my story...
Mass the past 3 weeks have been disastrous the boys don't listen, they move the entire time, talk to loud and want to be held the entire time. Jack ways 30lbs and Nicholas ways 40lbs. I can not hold these kids for an hour straight, it is not physically possible. After Ash Wednesday, I seriously considered never taking my boys to Mass again. Nick even said he has gotten nothing out of Mass for the past 3 weeks. So, on the way to Mass I talked it through with the boys. Each of them was assigned a parent (I had Jack, he is lighter) and Nicholas was with Nick. Mass was much much better than weeks past but I don't know what Jack's deal is? He can't be good, he moves, he shouts, tells me how fat and old the people around me are and lets the entire congregation know he has to poop. At one point I grabbed his arm tight, told him through clenched teeth to "knock it off" and out of no where he socked me with the other one right across the face. I didn't do anything, didn't say a word. Anything I would have said or done would have been emotional and inappropriate so I just shook my head at him and looked away. He was good after that for a while, he knew what he did was wrong.
Sometimes my kids drive me crazy. I pray and pray to be a better mother, surely your kids are supposed to drive you crazy. But, I think they are. It teaches me good lessons about self control and my reactions are teaching them how to cope with emotions.
So, I came home from Mass and found this quote from Saint Francis de Sales. I think I will use it.
So go tell John, I made a pact with my tongue. I need to clear my head before reacting at home and I guess I can use this at work too.
Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.htm#13#ixzz1GVDHVxov
Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/inspiration.htm#13#ixzz1GVDHVxov
Do you guys have a children's mass? Or a child friendly mass? Maybe that would work better - kind of like children friendly movies. Or maybe you and Nick can alternate Sundays in the crying room - if you guys have a crying room. Another thing that might help is if you guys take each kid but sit separately with them. With Nicholas you could probably explain a lot of the mass to him - he would probably like that - about how its important to pay attention and how people need it to be quiet when they talk to God. Just a thought. I cannot imagine what it is like to have to wrangle two little guys during mass... hats off to you and Nick and to Mom... she had to deal with Dad on top of having to deal with us.
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