To use the church nursery, or not? What it means to be fed.

Melanie has a rambly, thoughtful post with a lot of things to chew on, about "getting fed" spiritually as a mother. 

 I was rather surprised when two mothers of my acquaintance were in favor putting their children in the nursery when they are between the ages of 18 months and three and a half because, they argued, that's when they are at their worst behavior and because when you have three or more children it becomes impossible to control them all and even if you do control them you spend the entire mass distracted. Six days a week I give give give, said one mother, on Sundays I need to be fed.

… What I want to focus on is the question raised by our friend: What does it mean to be "fed" at Mass?

…The way I have come to see it is that this is a sacrifice that I will make for only a brief period of my life and I'm making it for the very best cause: so that my children can be in the presence of God and come to know Him and love Him and serve Him. I have confidence that in this area of life as with my personal prayer time, the act of showing up faithfully to Mass and the attempt to give as much of my attention as I have to Him is what he will reward. He is my Father and He will feed me what I need to be fed.

There is a lot more there – read the whole thing.