It’s On!

Yesterday I actually went to Church without two toddlers in tow. I even arrived early! I picked a seat up front, which is unheard of. My husband and I normally avoid the front half of the church; we rather not catch Father’s eye for mid-mass disturbances our children could possibly cause. But yesterday, I went up as far as the third pew. It was a whole new point of view. I could actually see the beautiful plants with ivy cascading to the floor and floral arrangements with candy apple red blossoms. The altar was highlighted with tall white candles on each side. It wasn’t necessary to stand on my tip-toes to see the page numbers for the hymns we would sing during the service, I could read them while comfortably seated. “So this is what the altar looks like!”

I sat, praying in the pre-mass quietness. The choir was practicing a few last touch-ups, but it did not distract me a bit. It was peaceful…nice and quiet. But about five minutes before mass was to begin, a father and two sons (I’m guessing ages 8 and 10) walked up to the front pew. Hence, abrupt end to my peace and quiet, and beginning of fun entertainment. The father genuflected (knelt briefly) and then tranquilly walked four seats over. He probably assumed his sons would follow, but the 10 year old jumped in the aisle seat, as if to claim it as a prize, and the game was on! The eight year old tried to shove his brother out of his seat, while the older one fought for position. Then the youngest pounced on his lap and the eldest attempted to shove him off. They were having a blast. I almost giggled out loud, because the father was clueless of the WWF match that had ensued next to him.

Once dad caught sight of the wrestling match in his peripheral vision, he jumped over, pulled son #2 off of son #1 and instantly #2 claimed, “We can do it.” The father continued to drag him over to the other side of his seat, but the young culprit persisted, “We can do it!” The father stood his ground of separation, but the youngest insisted, “We can do it!” I gathered that the instigator wanted to remain seated next to his brother so they could entertain each other for the next hour or so. The father realized there was absolutely no way his boys would contain themselves, so when his wife joined them after “the incident” she was seated next to her husband with the boys on the outskirts.

All was calm again in the front pew. The younger brother eventually leaned back so he could catch his brother’s eye. When the older sibling glanced over, the youngest made a goofy look at him, as if to say, “It’s on!” And then both boys laughed quietly.

I learned that it may be alright for my husband and I to venture up front with our children after all. Lord knows, they won’t be wrestling like those two boys…at least not for another couple years.