Maybe Restrictions Make Kids Leave the Church?

by hazelelponiSC · April 16, 2018

Cynthia Jones, Durban – Thank you so much for your editorial “Children at Mass” (March 14). Ever since I read the first letters on the subject, I wanted to reply and say that we had four children and took them to Mass from an early age, as my late husband and I enjoyed going to Mass together as a family.

I was strict, as I was very conscious about disturbing others, and the children got the message that they had to behave at Mass.

But if you are a single parent, you have no option but to bring the children, even if they are noisy.

Maybe if we mothers had been more relaxed about bad behaviour and the children hadn’t felt so restricted, then they might have enjoyed Mass more and never wanted to leave when they were old enough to make their own decisions.

I pray that the mother who wrote the initial letter and her children are back in their church where they belong — please God.

As an 86-year-old mother, granny and great-gran, I pray that God gives us all patience as we welcome families, smile more, and make them feel welcome and loved.