Messy Mass

I have been a terrible Catholic in the past year. Just plain lazy. I kept saying, next week I’ll go to church, but sleeping in with HB or just lounging about the house always seemed so much easier. However, Lent rolled around and I decided it was the perfect motivation I needed.

You see, I get extremely anxious about trying new things. Crowds of unknown people freak me out. So the idea of approaching a new church seemed daunting. Silly, I know, but I’m kind of odd like that. I missed last week because of daylight savings, so this week I really felt the need to go. I’d even driven past the Church a few times over the course of the week, to familiarize myself with it {see, told you, odd}

HB chose to stay home and Lil Gbear and I piled in the car with plenty of time to spare. We arrived at the Church and cute elderly gentleman awaited everyone coming in, greeting them with a smile and a handshake. My anxiety shrank a little as I found a seat at the end of a pew near the back, in preparation for the possibility of a quick exit. Lil Gbear hasn’t been to church in ages so I wasn’t sure how he would react. He really doesn’t like sitting still, so I wanted to be ready. I scanned the Church for a “cry room” but couldn’t find one. However, I felt at peace. I was glad  I had come.

The Mass began and I felt at home, albeit a little awkward with Gbear in tow. However, this comfort began to fade. Gbear found it necessary to make noise EVERY time the congregation was silent. I tried the binky, a bottle, snacks. Nothing worked and he even bit me! At this point I was just hoping to make it to Communion and then make a slightly early exit. Little Gbear had other plans. It seems I should not have attempted to placate him with food, because during one of the pauses in the Eucharistic Prayer, the unthinkable. *Vomit* The embarrassment.  I felt like the eyes of the entire congregation were on me. Of course, Lil Gbear was ok, just overly full. However, I decided that it was time to call it a day.

I left feeling disappointed and a little defeated, but I hope that next week things will go a little more smoothly! I guess Lil Gbear was just making up for all the times I threw up on my mom in church. ;)