The media and tabloids buzzed last week with the announcement that Prince William and Kate are expecting a baby. The royal couple has been the subject of baby rumors for months with reporters and photographers seizing on every opportunity to speculate about the couple’s possibilities for parenthood. Now — the waiting it over and maternity fashion designers rejoice! The timing of this breaking news is interesting because it’s Advent — and we’re all waiting for a royal baby, too! As we wait for the coming of Christ — the Prince of Peace — into our hearts and lives this Christmas, we might recall that Mary didn’t ride into Bethlehem on a donkey under the gaze of reporters and paparazzi. But she was in the tender care of God who sent Jesus into the world to show us how to love one another. Here are a few baby and royal baby discussion questions for you:
- What sort of celebrity news catches your attention? What movie opening/celebrity marriage/celebrity birth/scandal/etc. are you following?
- How have you been practicing the Real Royal Baby Watch (a.k.a. Advent) this year? What joys or struggles have you had with Advent this year?
- We all have babies in our lives — our own, nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, the babies in Mass — What are the joys or struggles you have with the babies in your life? (Here’s a great blog post from Busted Halo’s Caitlin Kennell Kim about welcoming children in Mass with tips for people with and without children. You might want to share this with young adults.)
- Babies can be a cause for celebration, but there are those who have suffered the loss of a baby or infant. Ask young adults if there are parents and families they would like to remember in prayer and then close your time together asking for a blessing for all families who are grieving the loss of a child this Advent/Christmas.