Poor hubby is insistent on taking Ms. Gracie to church. I've talked many times on this blog about our church escapades. The 11:00 o'clock service is smack dab in the middle of Gracie's nap time and as a result she really acts poorly during the service.
I've asked many, many people for advice and haven't gotten anything that works. We don't want to put her in the church nursery so that doesn't leave many options.
I am fine watching Joel Olsteen or whoever on the telly. Hubby says we MUST attend service. Gracie cannot sit still or be even moderately quiet. It's not fair to the other parishoners. So we find ourselves at an impasse.
This morning hubby demanded I get Gracie ready for church. So I did and off they went. My poor sweetums was already fidgeting , whining and wiping her little eyes. The last 2 times hubby attempted to take her to church he returned home before service was even underway. Let's see how he does today. To be continued......
Update
Well The need for her nap won out. Poor hubby was back home within 30 minutes. Gracie did her usual song and dance. Hubby was forced to pack up her diaper bag and leave in defeat. He looked so pitiful when he returned home. I really felt bad for him. Gracie on the other hand was in high spirits, she had big hugs and kisses for her momma then laid down and promptly drifted off to dreamland. Lawd, Lawd that's my baby girl.
16 comments:
Oh Ms. Gracie looks so pretty with her two ponytails. I think the more regularly she attends church the more "compliant" she will become :) And actually the other members actually don't mind as much as it makes you feel self conscience.
The pony tails are cute. Does your church offer any other service times? As a person without kids it really doesn't bother me. I just say when babies talk during service that is their way of praising the Lord.
I love the pics... she is getting bigger and bigger!!! wow, sorry to hear a/b Ms. Gracie signing and dancing in church!! I think Robbin is right, as long as I attended church, I don't recall never hearing a baby girl during the service... She will be fine....Yall just keep on keeping
Celeste
I feel you Terrie!
I believe the more she attends service, the better her behavior will become. Plus she is a toddler and this is expected. My hubby feels the same way as yours. They have to get used to being there and my hubby believes in keeping a child in service as long as possible. Now, me on the other hand, I do not like getting up and down and going in and out of church period. I would rather sit in the Mother's room from the beginning and call it a day, or stay home and watch our service on cable if I know I am going to miss it.
We attend a fairly large church and hostesses will politely come to you if you remain seated with a noisy infant or toddler mainly because it is taped for television. They will direct you to a room for assistance. We have a mothers room with a TV monitor to watch the service right across from the opening to the sanctuary, and people can breast feed etc, but it is for women only.
We also have a family room, for dads keeping the children. We have a nursery for infants through two and then we have a Children's Ministry for 2 years on up on the other side of the church. So, we provide many options for our members but I know that my infant would not be in the nursery until they are old enough to eat finger food. That is just me.
Although I work on the Children's ministry checking in children in the computer system that we have, I am not comfortable with leaving my baby with the nursery on the baby side. I can deal with 2 years and up.
We also call the media team that is recording and they will put your child's first name and last initial on the monitors in the church if there is a problem or if your child will not stop crying. I have seen parents sit in church and literally ignore the screen. I guess they just needed a break. However, a crying baby or toddler is not cool and it disrupts the rest of them if it goes on for a long period of time.
I originally grew up in a large Baptist church where all of the babies were in church and we passed them around and it didn't matter if they cooed, cried or babbled. That was part of the church and the preachers knew and understood. Now, things are different with taped services and live broadcasting. The church day cares can also hinder our children from learning how to sit and be quiet in church as they get older. It is a catch 2 situation.
All I know is, I don't want anyone passing me a slip or having an hostess/usher come and ask me do I need assistance to go out! I would be up and out on the first crank up that I couldn't control!
Babies will be babies!
I love her new hair style!
Hey guys, thanks for the comments. Our church is fairly large but they don't have a quiet room surprisingly. The first time hubby took her by himself, he asked about one and the usher said the monitor had been taken out (why)?!. Anywhoo, I can't stand to watch Gracie disturbing everyone. People are trying to pray during altar prayer and they can't because this adorable baby is screaming dadadadddaaaaaaa! She is LOUD and busy. She's crazy if she doesn't get that nap. She wants to get down, up, side, back, go to mommy then daddy then back again. All with LOUD sound affects. By the time we leave my head and back are killing me. It's just ridiculous. She's just not ready. She doesn't understand the concept of shhhh or use your indoor voice. Until she does, we (Gracie and I) will be at the house. I tried to encourage Hubby to go alone this morning, maybe next Sunday he will heed my advice.
why come you don't want to put her in the nursey? it will only be for 2 hours and she'll have a blast getting to play with other children her age.
Hi Terrie,
I agree with you, she's just not old enough to sit that long, she doesn't understand what she's doing. She's still a little baby. I'm willing to bet she's not enjoying herself either.
Even when she's a little older and capable of sitting still, she won't be old enough to comprehend the message which will still lead to boredome and fidgeting. Unless, the message is extremely simple and drama free, she won't comprehend.
She can actually start learning about God even as an infant through little nursery songs and simple text. This is a good age to introduce her to such, especially since she's walking and learning to understand. She's a little sponge right now. In the right environment, she'll do just fine at church. You may have to pry her away to take her home.
I know a lot of new mommies don't like church nurseries. I see quite a bit who spend Sundays in the hall too despite having access to a nursery. If it's structured and the volunteers are trained, it can be a positive experience for the children. However, every parent is entitled to care for their children as they feel comfortable.
I guess my experience with church nurseries is a little different because I've been in a mega church all of my life, which has it's benifits when it comes to different ministries. Our children's ministry was never just intended for baby sitting. As a young person, I volunteered with my mom a lot. Even the small babies had a little curriculum. We sang to them, played Christian music, and read little Christian books. Again, they are little sponges, but it has to be age appropriate.
When the children became older, they advanced to different levels of chidren's church with preschoolers 3 & 4 and etc. Age groups were divided according to developmental stages. This is the same methodology used for children's church when J was little. There are some very capable intelligent people with degrees in education, theology, and etc. who volunteer in some of these churches. Most importantly they love God and children.
One day you and hubby will feel better about entrusting Gracie to a structured children's ministry. Since you like Joel Olsteen, have you visited? Since he has young children, I'm sure they have an awsome children's ministry. It may be a decision you won't regret.
Aw, T that's too bad your church doesn't have a quiet room. Our church has "cry rooms" in the back of the sanctuary. It used to be a movie theater so I think they once were projector rooms or something. Anyway, I didn't read everyone's comments, but does your church have monitors in the foyer? I've seen mommies and daddies in the foyer at times at my and other churches...
Hi Trish,
Yes there are monitors in the foyer. the last time I went I took her out there but she just ran up and down the hallways charming all the deacons. I did not get to see any of the service. I just feel like what's the point in going to church if I'm not even able to hear the subject of the sermon. To me, it's an exercise in futility.
We absolutely won't put her in the church nursery. It's probably just fine but it's in a separate building and we're just not comfortable with it.
Hubby doesn't care for big churches (I do) so he wouldn't agree to go to Joel Olsteens church :(
her hair, she looks so old (and beautiful). I am with you on the church thing, at three (with Lucy) it still seems pointless. I want her to have the community but I refuse to use one of our two days together forcing her to act older then her age. Sooner or later!
Terri,
I completely understand about taking your child to church. I’ve have recently decided to stay home and view my service via the internet because Selamawit is too disruptive at Church. She’s either hungry, has to go to the bathroom, cries, or has tantrums. I can’t get to listen to the service. I attend a very small church and the children’s class starts at about age eight, which is too old for her.
I probably attend services about once a month now. Hopefully, when she gets a little older, I can start going back on a regular basis. But I would rather stay at home and view it on the internet. Three years old is still very much a baby, contrary to popular belief.
Andrea
P.S. Gracie's hair is really growing. What a cutie pie.
T - I bet little Gracie did charm those deacons with all that cuteness! :-)
When I lived in Houston, I attended Windsor Village UMC but moved to Lakewood and LOVED it! OMG. It was really a turning point in my relationship with God.
Lakewood offered exactly what I needed at the time and ushered me toward a renewed walk. After that, I relocated to Chicago and then Dallas and in each city I dug into the word and have grown so much. I've just got a real soft spot for Joel's ministry!
Plus, the praise and worship is awesome.
I just read my post and gosh it sounds like an infommercial! LOL
She is ADORable!
Gracie is a big girl now with pony tails. Too funny!
Terrie,
I hear you! We have tried to leave Addison in a couple of church nurseries with no success. We are all miserable after the service-if we even last through the service! Addison is at that age where she gets VERY upset staying with people she doesn't know well. Many nurseries rotate the childcare providers so babies/toddlers and their parents often don't know those tending to their children. Besides, much has been written about the link between colds and church care centers. Think about it...How often are those toys and books wiped down?!!! Taking her into the service is a joke. Although she's 2 1/2, she still doesn't fully understand the whole "inside voices" request. We attempted to have her with us in church a couple of months ago and we made it for a grand 10 minutes. Addison is so busy and loud that I am so paranoid that we are disturbing others around us. I always end up leaving out with her. The concept that "the more she goes the more she'll get used to it" simply isn't the case with many toddlers in an environment where they are expected to be relatively quiet and still. In fact, I think I'll tell a funny story about our church attempts on my blog. I need some good honest blog material! before I became a parent, I didn't know we would have this problem. Some may think we're over protective, but who cares?!!! You have to do what you think is best for your child and family. I looks like TV church services will be the best option for us for awhile.
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