What about loud kids at mass?
The age-old debate about crying children in church is something that has affected every parent and every Mass-goer at some point. While some might find the noise irritating, it’s important to remember that children are not trying to ruin anyone’s experience. From a parent’s perspective, it can be challenging to keep a crying child quiet during Mass, and from the perspective of those attending Mass, it can be difficult to stay focused when there are disruptions.
So, how can we approach this issue? It all comes down to love and charity. When we attend Mass, we are part of one Mystical Body of Christ – the Church – who come together to partake of the one sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, which is most profoundly offered to us, once again, in The Eucharist.
Children have just as much of a need for grace as we do and as much right to be there as we do.
It is important to remember that crying children are not doing anything wrong; they are just being themselves. It is up to parents to react quickly and take their children to the back or cry room when they start making loud noises. Most people understand that kids are going to get loud, and the vast majority don’t have a problem with a crying baby or a toddler throwing a fit if it doesn’t go on for too long. The problem most people have is with parents who seem to wait forever to take their kids to the back of church or cry room where they will be less of a distraction.
Disciplining your children from a young age is a good thing for them, but it starts by being disciplined yourself in how you parent. It’s important to set boundaries and stick to them. If the baby is under one year old, then take them to the back when they start to cry after a short period of seeing if you can quiet them and they still make noise. Once they are quiet, return to your seat. If the child is over one, then take them to the back after a short time of crying or throwing a fit but do not allow them to get on the floor or play. If you give them what they want, they will learn that throwing a fit or crying gets them playtime in the back of the church.
In conclusion, the noise of crying children in church is a reality that we all have to deal with. It’s important to approach the situation with love and charity, understanding that we are all part of the same Mystical Body of Christ. Parents can help by reacting quickly and taking their children to the back or cry room when they start to get loud. And for those attending Mass, it’s important to remember that crying children are not trying to ruin anyone’s experience, but rather they are just being themselves. Let us embrace the chaos and find hope for the future in the sound of children’s cries.
