To let my 3yo run around shouting in a church...

[alardi]

Obviously not during a service(!).

Here's the scene:
Fine medieval church in a small market town. Sign on church door that says "The church is open to all visitors". It's market day so many people popping in and out to see the architexture, buy a card, light a candle..

I go in with my 3yo DS who likes to run to the back the church, stopping to talk shout about things on the way, then run back to the front area (near the door), where the children's door is so that he can look at books, play with Noah's Ark toys there, etc. He tends to shout when he speaks at all, so from a stranger's perspective, you could say he's running and shouting...

As he runs back, a sour faced old bat old lady sitting in the pews, stands up and shrieks speaks sternly "Excuse me, this is not a playground!"

So I apologised and left...DS kept asking why we had to leave and I said it was because the miserable old hag old lady didn't like children.

But I haven't set foot in the church since, don't want to cause offense, can't get over the feeling that churches are really only for the old and solemn and miserable, not for lively young children.

Or was I outrageous to ever take my unruly DS in, especially as we are contented, resolute unbelievers? I just felt the church was part of DS's heritage and even if we are slack secularists humanists, I didn't want churches/religion to seem like a foreign culture to DC (hence why we used to visit the church fairly frequently).

I've not read the thread but I just wanted to say not all churches are like that! At the church we used to go to I got told off (in the nicest possible way) for taking the kids out when they were noisy. The church placed an importance on the children and their place within the "family". I don't believe that Jesus would be telling children to be quiet and sending them out for making noise, I don't think He would say it's a place for old miserable people either.

(13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, ?Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.? 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.)

Oh and I know people who will choose a church based on how they accept children - whether they have them themselves or not.

I'm listening to you Tortoise, your last post was spot on!!!

well at least the OP's three year old didn't have a supersoaker

Reading the OP again, I think the older woman's reaction really should have been kinder and a bit more welcoming - especially as there was a sign saying 'Visitors Welcome'
Unless the OP's child was extremely loud and actually destructive, the older woman was being a bit unreasonable.

But also if the OP 'doesn't want churches/religion to seem like a foreign culture to her dc' she should take her dcs to some family services rather than popping into the church at odd moments.

Excellent post Tortoise

I also think Tortoise had an excellent post-a good way to sum it up-and hopefully have the final word!

Of course true christians welcome everyone with open arms.
And if the Op had been attending a service and her child was treated badly, then that would be going against the christian ethos. AS it was however, the OP was just using the church as a place for her child to run around, and that's inappropriate. The lady was right to say something.

Have just notived Tortoise's last post. That is exactly what I was trying to say - only Tortoise puts it eloquently.

Well done Tortoise, that sums it up. Can't believe this thread lasted this long!