9 Tips for Midnight Mass with Young Children

Midnight Mass, Midnight Eucharist, Late Christmas Eve service - whatever you call it, it's a special, almost magical time for the whole family. But it can also be an endurance contest for children and adults. Here are some tips to help when taking children to Midnight Mass.

1. Talk to them beforehand. Explain that they're going to have to be quiet, listen to the music, look at the people, but not talk or move around much. Tell them that you'll answer their questions after the service. Then give the same little speech when you're sitting in the pew, just as a reminder. It's not fair to expect them to "be good," if you haven't explained what, "being good" means in this particular situation.

2. Make a Christmas present out of it. Midnight services can be a Christmas present to Mom and/or Dad, one that the children give by being quiet and good. After all, isn't that the truth? Wouldn't you rather have a blessed, peaceful Midnight Mass than a present?

3. Try to get a nap in. If they are too big for afternoon naps, maybe they could just lie down in their rooms with a book or toy after supper. Or maybe they'll lie down with you for a while - you need a nap, too, you know!

4. Bring books, coloring books and crayons, favorite silent toys or games. Even if you never bring those things to church, bring them this time. You may not need them, but if you do, you'll regret not having them. Likewise, normally you'd never let the children eat in church, but a silent snack may be necessary for this one service. Even candy. Quiet candy!

5. Try to sit where the children can see - perhaps on the center aisle. There's a lot going on that the children don't understand; at least they should have something - candles, hangings, the priest or minister - to look at.

6. If you have more than one child, bring another adult with you if you possibly can. Dragoon your mother, bribe your brother, hog-tie your husband. You need to be able to split up, because -

7. Face it, you're likely to have to move in and out of the service. One of you can stay with Bobby while the other goes out and changes Emily. If there's a convenient break in the service, at the Peace, perhaps, you might want to take the kids to the bathroom, just to give those little legs a stretch.

8. Explain a bit of what's going on, but talk quietly - even more quietly than you normally would in church. Breathe the words into their ears; you're trying to set a good example here! This service is probably more elaborate than the regular services, and they will have questions. "Remember that question; I'll explain in the car," is a good answer for some of the more involved ones.

9. And keep your sense of humor! After kneeling in prayer, I sat back and found that my little son had rummaged through my purse and found something interesting. "What's this?" he asked, holding up a tampon. The people in the pew behind us got a chuckle out of that one -- and so do I, every time I think of it! Christmas memories aren't always what you'd expect.

You know how fast they grow. Take them with you, enjoy them. Make sure they're part of the family at this important time.