Church

Every Sunday on the way home from church, I think about writing this post.  Then we get home and get into the lunch routine, then naps, then getting things done around the house and I forget.

For those of you who have young children and go to church every week, do you feel like you need a nap at the end of mass/church?  Seriously - between shushing Karsten to use his inside voice, redirecting Liam when he screeches that he wants something, and worrying that we're disturbing everyone around us, I am WORN out at the end of church, and don't even ask me if I remember what the readings were about.  Now, don't get me wrong - my children are typically well behaved, but in a very large quiet room, a couple of ill timed shrieks can cause people to shoot you dirty looks (if they don't have kids) or sympathetic looks (if they have kids). I know, we're teaching them important lessons by going to church every week, they're learning to sit and listen - blah, blah, blah.

I used to take a large diaper bag to church with us that had every conceivable thing we might need when leaving the house. I had snacks galore, multiple toy and book options, wipes, diapers, coloring books, full changes of clothes for both...the list goes on and on.  What ended up happening was that both boys wanted to paw through the bag digging for something to entertain them or to eat during church.  Then, I would get paranoid that the people sitting behind us are judging me for letting my kids have multiple snacks (albeit healthy ones) during church.  Not sure why this really concerns me, but it does.

So, we changed plans.  I now take a small bag to church with the essentials - diaper, wipes, kleenex, water glasses, a few books and a couple small toys for Liam.  We take one snack for each boy (they get to choose) and Karsten gets to choose one toy to take.  This helps a little, but there are still plenty of times when the sermon finishes and Liam is DONE with church.  I know an hour is a long time for a one year old to sit still, I get that.  I remember this frustrating phase when Karsten was one as well.  I think the frustration is magnified by two when you're trying to corral two little ones.

So, who's with me?  Do most people with little ones feel this way at the end of church or are we doing something wrong? :)

Hard to believe these smiling faces wouldn't be quiet in church isn't it.