Thank you dearly for this very insightful post. I’m one of those mamas in the pew, and am solo as the pastor’s wife. My 3-year-old son is so strong willed, and a wildcard on Sunday, and I have another son on the way. I’m the only one in an aging congregation with little ones. This was a wonderful, encouraging reminder of why us parents can and must continue to bring our littles to church, even when it feels that it’s all for naught (which of course, is never the case :) Recently, out of the blue, my son started verbally responding on and off throughout the liturgy - what a true blessing that was to see the beginnings of the fruit of God’s good and gracious work in him. In Christ, Solo Mama