Rocky and I were on a road trip and had to go to a local parish for our Sunday obligation. It was interesting. The church was the drabbest I've ever seen, A Quaker or any Anabaptist could've walked in said, "Guys plain doesn't have to be this ugly." The people were very nice, they treat their elders with consideration and I was SO impressed by the kids. They were well behaved. The brat factor in Northern Virginia is so high it's a nice surprise seeing ten years olds sitting without video games or having to go to the restroom three times in an hour. The homily was strange. The priest left the pulpit and gave his homily like a motivational speaker moving back and forth across the stage. The music was totally Protestant and concert length. At one point the priest and the sulky altar girl were standing for an inordinately long time waiting while the guitars strummed and the choir sang on and on. Poor Father was visibly startled when Rocky received Communion on his tongue but recovered himself when I stepped up.
As for the altar girl.......why do parents force their kids to serve? If you daughter is scowling, dragging her feet, flipping her hair, wearing makeup that makes her look like she just came out of a biker bar, slouching into the sacristy in booty shorts and a t-shirt that might fit a three year old or lounging by the altar before Mass I think she really doesn't want to be there. Maybe you are trying to show her who is boss but do you have to have this fight in Our Lord's house?