Last Friday, in our cell group discussion, there was a question on “what would you do/improve if you are the pastor of the church?” As for me, being a mother to a baby and a toddler, I would need a C.L.E.A.N room for my girls to play without distracting me from listening to the sermon.

There used to be such a room. Managed to use it when Belle was a baby. Now the room has been converted to the Senior Pastor’s wife office. In yesterday’s cell group meeting, the senior pastor gave the reason that when the children scream; the congregation can hear them. That’s because the door was not close because the speaker in the room is not functioning. So…in order to hear the sermon, the mothers have to open the door slightly. If the door if close, you can hardly hear the children screaming.

Now they put us in a big room where the kitchen and library is. With the books, rubbish bin, cooking utensil, tables, stools and of course a tv for us to hear the sermon. Everybody walks in and out the place with shoes on. The floor is of course not clean.

At the crawling stage can’t put them down. They will get their hands and knees dirty. It is more difficult for me as Kiki sucks her fingers. At the beginning of the walking stage, I have to follow her everywhere she goes. Few times, I caught her going thru the rubbish bin! And now, at the exploring age, she still love visiting the rubbish bin, opening the drawers and cupboards, going thru the library books, sometimes if she in a good mood, she will tear the pages she likes or if she has a pen with her, she will autograph it, then there’s going under the tables and knocking her head, picking up things she sees interesting on the floor etc. In one night I’ll be washing her hands a few times.

Do I get to listen to the sermon? Tell me how?

I’ll be… “Baby don’t tear the books, Baby don’t throw the books, No!!! Not the rubbish!, Don’t pick that up, Don’t eat that, Don’t play with the spoon/fork/bowls, Don’t climb the shelf etc. I can’t be carrying her for 3 straight hours when we are there.

I’ll be exhausted by the time the services ended even when hubby is around to help me out. Sometimes when hubby is preaching, worship leading, backing up or he’ll be busy with other stuff…I will opt not to attend church.

Since the Senior Pastor is not going to do anything about it, after discussing with the Assistant Pastor last night, I decided to bring the recorded sermon to office on Saturdays when I work full day. So I’ll be listening to 2 sermons per week. I’m working alternate full day on Saturdays.

So going to church is like going to a playground for my children, for them to meet other kids and socialize. And for me to chit chat with other mothers.

When I have another baby, I think I’ll lay off from church a while. Can’t imagine how to handle 2 active toddlers and a baby at the same time on a dirty floor and non-baby proof room.


Stumble it!