raising munchkins..lol

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

cjtarot	05 Apr 2003
Indigo_lady, I know what I mean,...but just like always..I didn't say it right..lol When I said I was raising my two girls spiritually, I ment that my loving hubby's response to the question "Do you believe in God" or any other diety would be "I DON"T KNOW". So needless to say, that is not the kind of atitude I want my girls to have. SO it is up to me to teach them about faith, doing right because of your faith, not just because you feel like it today..that kind of thing. I was raised Catholic so my faith is Christianity (with a twist.lol). So that is where their base will be, but that doesnt mean that they should not know about other religions, or ways of worship. I also hate intolerance so accepting people of other faiths (and cultures) with a shrug and an opion of "we are all entitled to be different" is important. I hate being judged and refuse to let my children to judge others based on diffences. Did that clear things up a bit? Blessings, Cj

RedWood	05 Apr 2003
I understand CJ...I actually have a book called pagan parenting...No i have not read it yet..I would like to teach my son about other religions..philosophies...Let him find his own way.

Indigo_lady	05 Apr 2003
My mother considers herself spiritual, my father quite an atheist, my mum's family is an *amusing* group of somewhat practicing catholics (who happen to be of jewish lineage), there is some *mistery practices* vein there that nobody seems to explain, and my dad's family are very strict seventh day adventist... When I was small my mum decided not to baptize me or anything, as is the tradition, since she prefered me to decide when I was old enough whatever religion, tradition, belief, etc.. I would like to follow She brought me up with so called christian values, morals, their rights and wrongs.. etc, but she made accesible to me the other main religions plus other alternatives considered more spiritual rather than established religions (methapysic practices, meditation, etc...) Through schooling, travelling, and friends I've become quite interested in buddhism, hinduism and Islam, Confucianism is of big interest to me too, but I would not call it a Religion So I would say that was my spiritual upbringing, thus my interest in your comment btw, thanks for ur explanation!!! I've been confronted several times by the question "why don't u just become a catholic?" and found myself in no real need of it... I'm not judging it or anything, but I consider myself spiritual enough, believer enough to confine myself to a practice that doesn't come natural to me...

HudsonGray	05 Apr 2003
The library might have a bunch of kids religion books. If you did one a week, and started off with one of the 'cool' ones like Native American, it'd be a learning experience for everyone. You'd have to keep it to the mental level of the kids (ie: no philosophical discussions) but they'd get a lot of benefit out of it. Muslim is in the news, I know PBS has had a bunch of specials on it & that educated me to more of what was being pushed into conflict, but it's all up to you as to what types you want to show the kids. Right now anything connected to the war might trigger more stress in them. But you can cover things like Greek & Roman gods, Egyptian, then move to what's being used currently in China, Japan, Asia, etc. Anything non-Christian (it's hard enough keeping the Christian versions separate, start with the obviously different ones that don't connect to it first). Have them pick a country & then call up one of those travel sites & check out the dominant religion there & get them some information on it. Anything that's presented as matter of fact will go over with kids. If they see it as normal & can ask some questions about it, they'll just accept it as part of the world. Best way to learn!

cjtarot	05 Apr 2003
Hi everyone, just wanted to say thank you for the advise. HudsonGray, your idea is a great one..Travel the world, society, religion and "so where is Egypt" type study. I'll let you know how it works.. Blessings, CJ

Kiama	05 Apr 2003
Redwood: I have the book Pagan Parenting aswell, and can highly recommend it to all! I think I will do the same as CJ... Raise my kids in a specific spirituality, but expose them to all and everything else! I was considering having a half homeschool-half proper school type education, with them going to a normal school, but getting extra lessons at home in religion, mythology, creativity, reading, and Tarot, oh, and nature. (Boy Scout style) This way I add to their quite plain RE education which they get at school, by telling them about other pantheons of Gods, other religions which aren;t necessarily mentioned in school, and aspects of religion which aren't mentioned. I'll also make sure they grow up with the philosophy that 'all gods are one god'. If they don't like it later in life, they can change it. So, whilst I'll raise my kids Pagan, they'll get a healthy diet of all the other religions out there, so they can choose for themselves later on. By giving them a religion early on, they knew what it is to be in a religion, and they have a basis for comparison. Kiama

RedWood	05 Apr 2003
Very good Kiama.. I do have one concern about the half homeschool have formal education.. here in the United States..the kids are at school for 7 hours..maybe another hour for homework depending on age..HS more..would adding a seperate homeschool thing..make it to long of a day..? I am considering homeschooling my son. There is not a school out there. That I like enough to send him to.

zorya	05 Apr 2003
i homeschool my children. my homeschool groups also have members whose children go to public school as well. doing both works for them. if one follows their childrens lead.... teaches when they ask or are curious, then learning is not work but is interesting and fun. there is nothing greater that one can teach their children, then the pleasure of learning.

Kiama	05 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by RedWood Very good Kiama.. I do have one concern about the half homeschool have formal education.. here in the United States..the kids are at school for 7 hours..maybe another hour for homework depending on age..HS more..would adding a seperate homeschool thing..make it to long of a day..? I am considering homeschooling my son. There is not a school out there. That I like enough to send him to. When I was a kid, Mum taught me creativity through reading stories to me at bedtime, and, when I was able to read, me reading to her. She then encouraged me, through play, to create my own stories with pictures she gave me, or dolls she gave me. She also taught me about nature in the Boy Scout style by taking me for long walks around forests and fields, showing me the trees, herbs, flowers, shrubs, telling me which ones were poisonous, etc. She taught me about other pantheons by telling me fantastic stories of Greek myths and legends, Norse, Celtic, Egyptian, Roman... I would sit there enthralled whilst she spoke, and I would remember everything she said. So, I was thinking I would make the homseschooling part of my child's life by incorporating it into play and recreation! :D Due to the things my Mum did with me, above, I learned to read around the age of 2, and was a published writer by the age of 10. Her helping me tell stories with pictures and dolls also helped me interpret Tarot cards later on in life (Well, when I was 9) and her nature education helped me gain common sense and a respect for Nature. I have a feeling this part of my growing up had a huge part in my gradual 'conversion' to Paganism. (I say 'conversion' because I didn't change my beliefs to fit a new-found religion, instead I just realised that my beliefs had a name!) I don't have kids yet, but one day I hope to, and I hope I can be as good a Mother as my Mum was. :D Kiama

RedWood	05 Apr 2003
I can agree with that..I do that too with my son..The way it sounded..was like..after school..guess what!! MORE WORK lol...i should of known better...ahh well...My son just learned about earthworms..he was very excited.

The raising munchkins..lol thread was originally posted on 05 Apr 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.