If you're a church goer...

So I hadn't been going to church for awhile, but now I've been working hard to go every Sunday, because I want to. For awhile I was just in such a low place I didn't want to do anything or go anywhere, well now I'm trying to change for the better and have started going back to church. I feel very comfortable and get that good feeling when I do go. DH isn't much of a church goer so he usually doesn't go. I go with our two daughters though, ages 10 (11 on the 6th) months and 2 years. My question is, how do you keep them "calm" enough I guess you can say, while mass is going on, so that you are able to pay attention to the priest? My 2 year old is pretty good. She'll stand up and what not, but isn't disruptive or anything like that. It's DD2 I'm sort of having an issue with. She's so squirmy! I just wish she could stand well enough so I can just put her down to where she will just stand still or sit still enough so that I can pay attention. So what do you do? Do you bring snacks? Let them draw on some paper? TIA

does the church noto have extended session? like pre school they go to when the pastor dude rambles.

the only reason we attend church is because the boys like sunday school (grandma teaches it) and they get to play with some friends.

we hate church though

we have child care during the service! But growing up the church we went too didn't have childcare so mom brought raisins or some sort of snack food and sometimes coloring books to keep us quiet.

Don't they have 'children's church' or something? At most churches I've been to there's a point in the service where kids ages Kindergarten to 6th grade can go with the other children and teachers and have a lesson in a different room?

I guess if you don't have that, I'd bring them a coloring book or paper to draw on, some gum to chew, etc.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Chamorrita momma:</b>" So I hadn't been going to church for awhile, but now I've been working hard to go every Sunday, because ... [snip!] ... or sit still enough so that I can pay attention. So what do you do? Do you bring snacks? Let them draw on some paper? TIA"</blockquote>


Our church has "little deciple" bags with crayons, coloring books and small toys. They occupy my LO sometimes. I always bring a snack for her, too. Now, she goes to the nursery.

We don't child care stuff for the younger kids. There is only the Sunday church school, starting with kindergarten.

Quoting omdjt:" Don't they have 'children's church' or something? At most churches I've been to there's a point in the ... [snip!] ... a different room? I guess if you don't have that, I'd bring them a coloring book or paper to draw on, some gum to chew, etc."

we do have it for kids kindergarten to 8th grade, but my kids are 10 months and 2 years old, so they don't qualify for that.

our older 2 go to the sunday school thing, and the baby sits with us. if he gets fussy they have a nursery (which we dont use) or a cry room (which we do use). the cry room is just a small room upstairs with a window you can see down to the church in, and they have speakers so you can hear. also they have a changing table and rocker for nursing.

Quoting Chamorrita momma:" we do have it for kids kindergarten to 8th grade, but my kids are 10 months and 2 years old, so they don't qualify for that."

that sucks we have it for 6 weeks up! It is very hard to keep kids of that age quiet in service.

Quoting Chamorrita momma:" So I hadn't been going to church for awhile, but now I've been working hard to go every Sunday, because ... [snip!] ... or sit still enough so that I can pay attention. So what do you do? Do you bring snacks? Let them draw on some paper? TIA"

well im not catholic so i dont go to mass but i do go to church it can be tough with kids tho im baptist and ive been to many the most important thing to me is to find a church you like some churches have classes for children to go to while youre in the service so check into that but if not i would bring two or three books and a couple small toys that dont make noise once youve been going on a regular basis they will learn that when they are at church they need to sit still and be quiet (not that either will sit completely still lol they are little) but im glad that you are back in church! hang in there it will get easier!

Thanks everyone! Guess I'll bring a little snack or something small to keep them occupied! I wish our church had a nursery kind of thing! That would be great!