Church

Yesterday was really stressful.  We tried for the second week to go to church as a family -- right after the kids came home from Grandma's house -- and Ia went to Sunday school for the first time.  Ia actually did fine, but it was so difficult with Larry and to a much lesser degree Audrey!  The Children's Liturgy during mass is really aimed towards children who can already read.

I went to children's liturgy with Ia and Larry this time so that Dave could stay in church with only Audrey.  There were lots and lots of kids -- I asked one of the leaders if she would like me to start them with a song to try to get their attention and settle them down.  I sang the first verse of "Peace Like a River," and Larry garnered laughs by coming up and singing "Jingle Bells" -- while I was trying to lead "Peace Like a River."  I persevered during the song, then took him out and we went on a walk, checking out Mary's statue and the Rose fountain.  Those parts weren't actually so bad, especially checking out the sculpture of a book in the fountain (which was not running, unfortunately).  Dave then came out during the sermon because Audrey was antsy, so none of us were in church.  We went back in at the same time as Chidren's Liturgy, and I went right to "the crying room" with Larry and Audrey so that Dave could have a little peace.  Larry was loud and knocking the hymn books off the chairs and not listening to me.  Audrey wanted to nurse, which was fine but meant it was harder for me to get up and have more direct control of Larry.

Larry then went out of the door and tried to lap up some of the holy water.  Dave had already taken communion and was back in his seat.  He took Larry out for a walk, I stood with the choir holding Audrey and took communion when they did. I sat down in the front pew afterwards.  Dave came back in with a somewhat contrite Larry who leaned against me on one side, and Ia leaned on the other side.  We at least were sort of together for a tiny bit.  Larry couldn't wait to get up and push the (handicapped) button on the door to make it open.  He headed for the door as soon as church was over, and Dave rounded him up for the other direction for donuts before taking Ia to class and Larry and Audrey to the park.  In the meantime, I was left with Audrey, and there were only 10 to 15 minutes until the next mass, and we needed to practice.  I could not go to the bathroom because I had Audrey and very little time.  Dave did not come back, and did not come back, and it was almost time for mass.  I went out front to look for him, but by then he was probably taking Ia to class and was not there.  Fortunately, the father who plays the drums and leads the music at the Saturday evening mass offered to hold Audrey.  Before my cantoring actually started, with the priest and altar servers already in a circle at the back of church, Dave came back with Larry, packed Audrey up in his car seat and was on his way.  But by that time I already felt I had been through the wringer.

Dave doesn't think we should go to church together as a family any more, and says that we aren't really going as a family anyway.  I still want it to be able to go better.  I feel like there needs to be something for preschool aged children, I feel it would be helpful if friends or family could possibly come to church with us at least occasionally and support us with the kids.

Ia did do well and seemed to relatively like both Children's Liturgy and Sunday school; Audrey was pretty "good" during church; Larry was relatively good at the park afterwards...

I pray for a way to have a peaceful family Sunday, and to bring us closer to God, each other, and our community