mass with children, a new expirience every week

Jeff and I have always attended mass as a family, for the past year that has included one more. Champ is at the age where he doesn't sit still for long, doesn't understand when to "talk" and so forth. Mass has become a bit of physical and mental gymnastics. First we try to formulate small, quiet distractions that will keep him entertained while seated. There is only so much you can do with books, a string of Mardi Gras beads and so forth. Then as he squirms the physicality comes in as it takes all you have to keep him from flying over the pew into the people in front of you, or darting into the aisle.

Well last night he added a new complexity, an upset stomach. Poor Champ began emptying his stomach right in the middle of the Eucharistic prayer. All over all three of us. (As children get bigger, everything about them gets bigger.) I tried my best to wipe everything down with wet wipes and Jeff took him to the bathroom. After signaling the usher that our pew needed attention after mass, I found Jeff and Champ huddled in the back of Church. Poor Jeff was frustrated that we live in a very large affluent parish and they failed to stock the bathroom with hand towels. We don't usually skip out of Church following communion, but we figured God understands. Champ was taken home, stripped, and washed from head to toe.

As an update, he didn't have a good evening, but woke up this morning thirsty and hungry. He is keeping down water and Cheerios so food will be re-introduced slowly.

every day...adventure.