Sometimes kids let you know they really are listening…
A week or so ago I walked in on my four-year old talking to her little brother about how when someone dies they get buried in the ground and they don’t come back. “That’s true,” I said, when she looked at me like she expected a reaction.
And then she said, very serious, “But Jesus came back.”
***
And sometimes what’s going through their minds just makes you laugh…
This weekend we visited my parents and went to church with them. Their church is much, much larger than the one we attend, with a large cross-shaped baptismal pool in the front. Since we got to church a good 30 minutes before service was to start (something my parents are used to doing, but which isn’t so easy on little ones…), we decided to walk the kids around and get some energy out of them before they would need to sit in the pew.
During our walk we stopped to look at the baptismal pool. I quietly let Peanut know that’s where babies got baptized at Grandma and Grandpa’s church. A few minutes later Monkey wanted to see it again. When I lifted him up and sat him on the edge so he could see the water, he asked, “Where’s the stingrays?” (To be fair, it really did resemble the touch pools at the aquariums we’ve visited…)
***
No doubt about it, though, they are always thinking…
Mass usually only lasts 45 minutes at the church the kids are used to. Since we had gotten to my parents’ church so early, Monkey was ready to leave almost before it even started. He kept asking, “It’s over?”
Finally, he tried a new tactic, “I have to potty.” (Yeah!!! He just started that phase of potty training this week.) So I walked him to the bathroom at church. I could tell he was disappointed when he said, “There’s a potty at church….??” (I’m pretty sure he thought maybe we’d have to go back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house and we’d be done with church if he had to potty…)
***
momto8blog says
I remember those times very well….the older kids (like 8yrs old) would fight over who gets to take the toddler out if he gets bad..then they would roam the lobby looking at who was in church! now, they all love going to mass….if I would have ever known that then..I would have enjoyed my life a lot more!!
admin says
LOL – I love that they fought to see who got to take the toddler out!
Kristen says
Those are great bits to have for your memory. I keep a small journal where I write those types of things down. It will be 9 years old on March 12th, the day my oldest daughter turns 10.
admin says
I have a journal for each of them I started when I was pregnant. I hate to admit I haven’t written in them as often since I started the blog… I’m hoping to print out my posts one day for them, though.
shari lynne @ Faith Filled Food For Moms and Grandmothers says
That’s funny OneMommy! Kids are definately always thinking..they are so smart!
Blessings 🙂
admin says
They are! And they crack me up sometimes!
Amy @ CountingMyKisses.com says
Love this post! Out of the mouths of babes. 🙂 Little O totalllllly uses the “I have to go potty” phrase to get out of anything she doesn’t want to be doing~ time out & church especially. 🙂 Too funny!
admin says
Oh, I know how they can use that “need the potty” to get out of things! 🙂 My little girl used to use it to get out of bed all the time, but this was a first for my little guy!
Jen says
That is just so amazing that she “gets that” to whatever degree she does, kids are so funny. We have a large baptismal I’m gonna call it a poll in our church too. But your story got me to thinking about funny things kids say in church.
My cousins came to mass with us one Easter holiday. As Father was processing out of the church I was commenting how good he was with kids {he was amazing with my boys} and we have a school too. Her son who was about 6 at the time said “he’s not a real priest, he’s got tan pants on- priests only wear black pants.” All we could do was giggle at his insistence ! And there like he said under his Alb he was wearing a pair of Dockers….
admin says
LOL. I love it! Yes, they do normally wear black pants, don’t they? Too funny. My mom just told me that when we were at mass my daughter asked when the “little guy was going to come out to sing”… I guess since we usually sit in the back at my church the priest seems little to her… (My parents’ church is so large they have t.v. screens, which I was surprised the kids weren’t commenting on wanting a kid’s show…)
admin says
Thanks! It cracked me up – I don’t think my mom thought it was as funny…
Rach says
Haha! So cute! I especially love that he was looking for the stingrays 😉
Angelle says
It is really important to engage your kid in the word of Christ because it is really a good practice not only for kids but for everyone. Having a relationship with God is a blessing. We must give time to HIM because he is the source of our strength and knowledge for our everyday living. We must go to church and praise him, in that way, we are able to show our LOVE to him.