WWYD re: Xmas eve mass

[Deleted]

We alternate years being with our parents for Christmas, so it's been a couple years since this came up. My parents go to a church with one option for Xmas eve, and it's at 7:30 pm. This is the church I grew up in, and I do like going as it reminds me of my childhood (they do the same nativity play, with the same costumes, to this day). My mom would like us to go.

Last time was an absolute shit show. We all went, but DD was a baby and DS was 2.5, and I feel like it was at 9 pm not 7:30. 

DH has offered to stay home with the kids. So we could do that. I don't think I can let my mom go to church alone with Dad, so I would go. Or we can all try to go.

I feel like we'll all go and I'll be on here later saying how I'm an idiot. 

[kershnic]

How long is the service? Is it child-friendly? What time is their usual bedtime, and how do they do with your other attempts at schedule changes?

I'd probably plan to go to the service, but be ready to exit quickly if it didn't work out. My kids usually go to bed by 8, but are pretty good at being flexible if they're doing something interesting. I'm assuming a service with a nativity play is somewhat interesting to children, and I'm going on the assumption it's probably an hour or so long.

[Deleted]

Yeah, around an hour. There will be other kids there, and my kids do normally attend church so they get the general concept. Normally bedtime is around 8, but that's never happening for Christmas Eve anyway.

I'm really growing to not love "my" years where we travel, but I'll do pretty much anything for my mom.

[soozy87]

I'd probably go with the kids and bring lots of snacks and drinks to entertain them if the program wasn't entertaining enough for them.

[undecidedowl]

Could you take DS with you and leave DD home with your H?

[undecidedowl]

And if you do take both, know that I'm doing the same and we don't usually go to church. So we can both be here feeling like idiots lol.

[ktw]

Will your mom care if the kids aren't there? If not, I'd spare yourself the potential disaster and leave them home with your H.

[VillainV]

I would probably take the older kid and leave the younger one home with H. Or take enough cars so that H can take DD (or even both kids) home if it's a shit show, and you can ride home with your mom and dad.

You can always make a game-time decision based on how they are acting that day.

[stephogirl]

I'd plan to go with the understanding that I may be changing my mind at the last minute, depending on the kids' moods at that point. Two cars is a good idea.

[curbsideprophet]

Dec 11, 2015 15:57:55 GMT -5 undecidedowl said:

Could you take DS with you and leave DD home with your H?

This is what I was thinking too.

[redheadk]

I would plan to attend with them but my DD (3) would be fine with that time, even though it's a little later than her usual, and would have been at your younger child's age, too. My back-up plan would be for DH to stay back with one or both kids if they are having a rough day or something, but it would be a distant Plan B.

[Deleted]

I'd go. I'd take them.
It's our usual church time too and it really works best with H's holiday schedule.

I just fully prepare myself for the following disaster.

Christmas Eve church is usually full of screaming kids visiting Grandma anyways...so I wouldn't be too worried.

[lilac05]

We take both of ours. Late on Christmas Eve, 9AM Christmas Day (after socks are opened, but before gifts are opened), and 6AM Easter morning. It's family tradition. I pack snacks and a few quiet things to do and they're usually really good (even better than regular services). Your kids may really enjoy the play part compared to a regular service.

[Deleted]

LOL, I'm just remembering how much DS "enjoyed" it last time.

It was pretty awful. As was his Christmas concert last night, which was over by 7 pm. Both kids were in full meltdown by the time we managed to leave.

[jewel]

I'd probably go with my kid, but he can hang pretty late right now.

I took him to the evening service last Christmas Eve, and it was a nightmare. He was 3 months and witching during that time. I ended up leaving mid-service.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2015 17:06:12 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

I'd go. I'd take them.
It's our usual church time too and it really works best with H's holiday schedule.

I just fully prepare myself for the following disaster.

Christmas Eve church is usually full of screaming kids visiting Grandma anyways...so I wouldn't be too worried.

This is where I'm at. Children's mass is well know to be a general shit show.

[imojoebunny]

I would take DH up on his offer to stay home with the kids. I am atheist and DH is Catholic, this is what we do when his dad is in town. My kids, 6 and 9, go to bed at 7:30, and they are a shit show the next day, if I keep them out past 8:00, even now. As small people, I wanted to run away the next day, when I made that mistake. You do not want to run away on Christmas.

[Deleted]

I'd probably go. I'll admit, since having the girls we haven't been going to mass regularly because it was just too much but we have been going at holidays. Yes, bad Catholic, I know. Anyways, I just make sure to have some small books with me, a snack, and some water. We also sit near the back and walk out if we need to with one of the kids.

This year is probably going to be the worst for us with a 3yo and two 21mo, so I'm trying to prepare myself. But it's only about an hour, hour and a half so we can make it work.

[Marmee]

We all go...often one of us ends up in the vestibule or out in the car with the rouge kid. At least we tried...lol.