Sunday, March 21, 2010

Catholic Guilt

It's a Week before Holy Week, next Sunday is Palm Sunday,  and where was I this morning? Sitting in my pjs thanking God I wasn't in church? This is a huge struggle for me. I grew up in the every Sunday even if you are on deaths door, you go to church family.  I know I should be there, I know that  part of me wants my kids to know a Genuflect from a Kneel but the other part of me says I'd rather be home lately watching them run around and enjoy a lazy Sunday morning. No pressure to get out the door on time to catch a bus or rush to here and there. But why is 930 am now early in my mind? Why is 1015am for Sunday school early? Why is the 1130am mass early?
I will struggle with this I'm sure for the rest of my life because my "backup" parent here, doesn't bother. It's not something he ever gave any weight to, I knew that almost 19yrs ago but still I wish that someone would say "are we going" because really it's easier to go as a whole family then just me. 
When I had my first son, I really enjoyed Mass on Sundays because it was an hour (drive to and from included) that I wasn't being needed for something. I got to sit and think and feel great after I got out. There are people at church, real live not inside a computer people.  I can "shake hands" (when it's not Flu season) and smile and nod to my fellow Catholics.
The boys learn to sit still, but yet I still fight the urge to drag them out of their by their ears some Sundays. That feeling that all eyes are on us, as I say "SHHHHHHHHH, I can't hear the priest" or "We'll talk about it in the car, and boy will we talk" and the evil eye! My kids know the evil eye, that was something I learned well and use often for many sitations.
Next week we'll be there, it's an important week, we are not going to the Island so I'll be in mass here in town. I think some of the locals will be in shock. We'll see.