Lent is here and being Catholic is great, until you realize that you have to say goodbye to ice cream, Netflix, social media, Chipotle or anything else you might decide to give up. If you're a Catholic, you more than likely understand the "growing up Catholic" memes which have hit the internet with Easter approaching. Since you love them so much, here are a few more explaining what it's like to be Catholic as a young child.
1. You never seem to pack a lunch with meat in it unless it's a Friday during Lent
Nothing is more exciting than convincing your parents to buy you a Lunchable when you're a child. It's 11 on a Friday morning during the season of lent -- lunch time! You grab your Lunchable and begin to peel back the plastic when you realize...there's meat in it.
2. Falling asleep in mass was never an option, especially not these next few Sundays
Everything has been tried. The "one eye open," The "I'm praying" or pretending to read the newsletter -- nothing works. Mom and Dad know over time and they are not afraid to nudge you and by nudge I mean almost throw you across the pew.
3. This question is asked too often
I have many friends who are not Catholic. They ask me constantly if I'm "eating Jesus." At this point, it might be easier to just smile awkwardly until they move onto a new question.
4. You have an early bedtime Saturday nights before Holy Days of Obligation
Don't plan on sleeping in Sunday morning. You're either attending mass at eight or ten. The worse part is that it's a holy day, which means you will be arriving at church an hour early in order to snag the good seats. Unless you're lucky enough to have a family who goes to mass at 5 o'clock, those Sundays are the best.
5. You're the only kid in your friend group to have had wine by age nine
The fact that you've participated in full-service Communion since you could wrap your head around it makes you feel like a bada**.
6. At some point in your life, you have participated in a church play during Christmas
Those make the best home videos because something always goes wrong. The halo either falls of the angel or Mary drops the baby. If you're not Catholic I would encourage you to attend one of these plays. They're great.
7. All your friends are likely named after saints
Is it just me or did everyone else grow up with a Thomas, Margaret, Elizabeth and Michael?
Jokes aside, growing up Catholic creates a large family of friends who you can count on for the rest of your life. Anyone will tell you that this is true. I still have the same best friends in college as I did in elementary school. If you grew up Catholic, these moments along with many more are a huge blast from the past and I wouldn't change it if I could.
