Real Man and the Monkeys are Catholic, and in the Catholic church, in second grade, children perform two sacred rites…First Holy Communion and Reconciliation, AKA First Confession.
I think seven is a bit young to be confessing…I mean, let the kids actually accumulate a couple of hearty sins before asking them to confess.
But, I digress.
Anyway, for whatever reason, my kids seem to share extremely guilty consciences. You may remember the story of Monkey Girl in tears, sure that she was going to wind up in Juvie?
Par for the course around here.
So, now it is Monkey in the Middle preparing for his Reconcilliation and he’s completely burdened with anxiety over it.
Now, to be frank, he has more to fess up to than Monkey Girl ever did, but I’ve got some pretty damn good babies over here. Yet, they were completely petrified at the thought of having to confess their “sins.”
I find it interesting that the more “moral” people are, the harder it seems to be for them to discuss their failings, yet, people whose moral compass usually points in its own direction seem to have no problem with talking about their deeds.
Do people become more comfortable with their bad behavior the more they engage in it, and therefore become less embarrassed by it?
If I started doing one “bad” thing a week, would I find myself more and more willing to talk about the ways I was “sinning” as it became a behavioral habit?
Just some questions that popped into my head as we talked about Reconciliation with Monkey in the Middle tonight.
And, as for me, I’ll be watching that ceremony with great interest.
And, believe me, it won’t be the kids who are trembling on the way to the confessional that I’m worrying about.
It’s very interesting that they refer to it as “reconciliation” now cuz girl back in the 70’s it was only ever called “confession” (as in reveal your deep dark 7 year old “sins” of fighting with your fellow Monkeys, and/or “penance” (asking for forgiveness for said “transgressions”). I digress. I have to admit, as a former (and never again practicing Catholic) it kinda aches my heart that Monkey in the Middle is having anxiety over it all. {grumbles under breath about organized religion and it’s guilt-wielding ways}. ;0)
He’s a great kid, like all of your Monkeys. Tell him “Auntie Heather” said to remember the most important lessons are being kind, smiling everyday, and not sweating the small stuff. The rest, tell him to call me when he turns 18. ;0)
Comment by Heather — November 15, 2011 @ 8:29 am |
After so many more years on this particular front, I have to agree. Seems way too much to expect from any of God’s little ones. Perhaps I always walked to the beat of a different drummer as I plodded through my 21 yrs. of Catholic school indoctrination and just never felt like I “belonged there”. As with Auntie Heather, I too second the advice to be kind as best you can–even on those really challenging days–and never doubt that Someone loves you just because you are YOU.
Love, Carla
Comment by pitney43 — November 15, 2011 @ 9:40 pm |