I’ve been a mom for nearly 17 years now. That means I’ve attended around 800 Masses with at least one child, aged four or less, since August 1998. I’ve paced, I’ve played, I’ve prayed, I’ve pointed out colors in stained glass windows, read books, nursed (oh, so much nursing!), and I’ve worked hard to keep my kids from being a distraction to others.
It’s nice to know that some people, like Meg Hunter-Kilmer appreciate the distraction.
On behalf of those of us who don’t understand the sacrifices you make to bring your kids to the wedding feast, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for judging you and being annoyed at you and rolling my eyes and everything else that focuses on me instead of on us. Your kids are a very important part of us, even–especially–when they won’t stop yelling.
Because yes, your kids are distracting me. They’re distracting me from my narcissism. They’re distracting me from the idol I’ve made of worship, making me encounter God as he really is, not as I want him to be. They’re distracting me from the endless series of irrelevant thoughts that occupy my “praying” mind.
Your screaming kids are distracting me. Thank you for that.








