When my girls were little and couldn't handle the long mass .. My hubby and I would do shifts and keep them at home
When they got a little older I told them if they didn't behave and sit still .. we would stay for the next mass
I only had to do that once :0)
Now that they are older and don't pay attention in mass .. I just need to snap my fingers and give "The Look" .. just like my mom did with my siblings :0)
I had it easy for two reasons,
First, my hubby isn't Catholic so he kept the babies at home.
Second, the church I was at before had CCD at during mass so children were not expected to attend. It sounded good at the time but now I know better.
Because of the CCD thing, my girls feel it is a great honor to be at Mass. We have St, Joseph's Picture books to help the little one make it through, but I would not hesitate to walk out.
Love it! Trying to get the 13 year old boy to sit up straight is a battle. Are they pathalogically unable to avoid slumping or to sit in a chair with all four legs on the ground?