Hi all, I have a quick question if my priorities are right - mostly due to reaction at work to my choice.
This weekend, dd has her final (I think) FHC prep mass in local church with school. Religious instruction is once per week in but after school as it,s multi-denom. We are reasonably regular mass attenders anyway, and have made most of these monthly masses. But did have to miss the first 2 due to my dads retirement events in home city a month apart (first was actual retirement, second was the senior senior guys from overseas having a celebration dinner. Including family and very very unusual event in the company). Both were arranged before we knew dates of masses as we only get told those the week before.
The last of my DGM's died a year ago yest (I knew all 4 to adulthood, and lost 3 in the past 4 years). Due to other family commitments (there were 6 children who lived, so quite extended family group) the mass is this coming weekend, and my uncle will celebrate mass in family house to mark it, so quite special and intimate for family.
DH is also away overseas for work (he was here for DGF 4 years ago, DGM death 20 months ago but not month,s mind and scattering of ashes 5 hours away requiring family gathering weekend, and a year ago missed both DGMs death and months mind due to overseas commitments). It is really not deliberate and we had to be really careful scheduling his Tavel so he was home for DB's wedding 5 weeks after DHM death last summer, and to be home for DDs FHC. He spends half his time away on a contract at the minute and works FT even when at home.
We were not going to sports commitments to skip the mass (cousin, also FHC year but different school, has prep mass Sun as well but skipping for hockey and may make family event). Our hockey finished last week, football match will be over, and I would have skipped match for mass in any event.
I had intended going to family mass rather than FHC one. It seems as though RE teacher is fine with that as I sent a note to school and dd didn't need to take note to all class about Sun.
But a couple of people at work had immediately jumped to the conclusion I would be going to FHC mass with dd. Going to both is not an option as same time exactly and as DH is away , I cannot split us in 2 (which we've done for other events before if needed and joined up later).
I could just go to family home after mass for the buffet meal, but that feels wrong to me. And I certainly don't not want to go at all, I was close to DGM and I haven't seen some of those who will be there for a few months. I'm also feeling quite isolated at present due to dh's commitments and dealing with dd SNs (asd, ADHD). So I need to keep in touch with family.
But now I feel like I'm doing the wrong thing in my choice. Should I be bringing dd to the FHC prep? Or is the family anniversary mass the right thing to do?
Sorry if this is the wrong place, and that it's so long.