We are working on the clothing switch (I know... it's quite late into the spring and hot...) and I was sorting through the boys suits that hang in my closet. Clothes sorting always makes me ridiculously emotional as I remember the children in various outfits that they have long since outgrown. We have many sizes of suits hanging there and I recalled Alex's First Communion. Kevin insisted that Kevin J. wear a tie and button up shirt. Well that poor boy was used to wearing polo shirts for Mass and you would have thought the tie was going to do him in. He squirmed, tugged at his collar, lolled in the pew. My mother and I could hardly control our chuckles. I have no idea where Kevin Sr. was, maybe he was on the altar or helping with the communicants, I don't remember. Anyway, he wasn't sitting with us and I decided the next time he made a boy wear a tie, he would have to be the one to sit with them.
Now my older boys rarely attend Sunday Mass without wearing a tie and jacket. The younger boys usually 'follow suit'. :)
Dominic and his friend
We are so glad that our boys have enough respect for the Mass and our Lord, and themselves, to dress nicely for Mass. It does help that many young men at our parish also wear suits and ties or at least button up shirts.
The dress code at St. Augustine's tutorial program does not require ties or jackets but they often wear them. The boys understand that dressing neatly shows respect for their tutors, the occasion, and those around them.
Alex in composition class
Of course they dress casually at home, for youth group, or other occasions that are appropriate. But they are always fairly neat, manly and modest.
JH and Kevin playing playing floor hockey
We are very happy with the style of dress they have adopted for themselves. But it certainly makes us chuckle to remember that day Kevin J, suffered through wearing the neck tie.
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