"Mom?"
"Yep?"
"Will Santa bring me a camera for Hanukkah?"
"I don't know, Sweetie. He's making his list. But Santa comes for Christmas, not Hanukkah."
"We celebrate Christmas?"
"Yep. We celebrate Christmas because Mommy is Christian, and Hanukkah because Daddy is Jewish."
"Daddy is Jewish?"
"Yep."
"What does that mean? To be Jewish?"
"Uhhh....um...I think you have to ask him that, honey."
"Okay, Mommy."
9 comments:
Oh boy! Can I sit in on that conversation? I'd like to know too...
It's amazing what kids say and ask. Did we do the same when we were kids? Am not even sure what I did, am so old! - LOL
@navilyn: I was a little resistant to correct her about Santa. I think I could explain what it means (to me) to be Christian. I haven't had very many conversations with my husband about what being a Jew means to him.
What we had decided long ago was that we wanted to give our kids the best of both religions and that they could decide for themselves. It is a nice thought, but little hard in practice.
Imparting faith when you don't really practice a religion is really hard...especially if one of the religions in the house is non-standard. Generally, Chris and I don't bring up faith or religion...and yet Ross has a direct connection to God. Direct, as in, has regular conversations with. Don't ask me which God, I don't know. And so far, none of the revelations have been worth inscribing on plates and moving to an uncrowded plain. It's still a little perplexing.
Well, in reference to Karen's comment, I must refer you (again - I did an entire post about it, I was so enthralled) to this wonderful show about spirituality and parenting. It's bitchin'.
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/spiritualityofparenting/index.shtml
@Karen: At the heart of it, belonging to an organized religion and spirituality are different things. In order to allow choice, there must be a period of exposure and then decision. It makes sense to me that the age of confirmation is around 13-14. But then when is the period of exposure? And how do you do that in a balanced way? There aren't easy answers.
@Lisa: I was thinking of that and you this morning. Happy Solistice!
...just adding to the conversation:
When I was growing up (actually between 11-14), I went to quite a few different churches, and they were of varied religions.
But, I always felt pressured to belong to the one I was going to at the time. My family was Catholic, and we 'tried to follow the rules'. Over the years I've had to find and understand my 'own' faith. So, now I go to a Methodist church (not very often, but, I go nonetheless), albeit a bit guided because my wife was already going there, but I still have a million and one questions. Am I going to the right one, am I doing the right thing, etc, etc. I think the main thing is that we do 'believe', and that has to count for something, no?
I think I am qualified to weigh in. My Mother was Catholic and my Dad was Jewish. Dad had not been raised with religion. Mom brought us up Catholic.
When I was slightly older than Lauren someone asked me what my Dad being a "Jew" meant.
I said it means he can sleep in on Sundays.
And Karen, I am worried about Ross. He doesn't "see dead people" as well does he?
Ross doesn't see dead people, at least not that he's mentioned. He is the one who told Lars the devil is underfoot, however. I'm not sure who's teaching him all the big words. "Underfoot" has waaaaay more than four letters...
@Navilyn: I did a little of that in my late teen years, but never found a fit. I liked the Unitarian Universalists best, and we were married by a UU minister who was a professor of ours (and Dad's). I completely agree - it is what we believe and, as Christians, how we treat others, that defines who we are.
@Dad: It makes sense. Mimi told me once that there was discrimation against the Jews in the 50's in WH, which surprised me, since in the 80's, the town was pretty well split, but sort of segregated.
@Karen: Ohhh...and Lars took to literally mean "under his foot"?
Post a Comment