Advice please?

[Reyna]

So kiddo is only one and a half but we've already scoped out all the schools nearby and we've narrowed it down to two (with a possible) third that has the curriculum we like and is close to where we live. Problem is, all three schools are Christian.

Now, nothing against a Christian school, but I'm worried about including kiddo in my rituals or studies. I don't want to confuse her or cause "problems".

What are your thoughts?

[illion]

I wouldn't worry. Kids are pretty good at differing between how things work in one place contrary to another.

When my son have questions about religion and faith, I always tell him that he can believe in anything that he wants to believe in, that nobody shall tell him what to believe, and that nothing is documented anyway. I keep doing what I do, school does what it does, friends do what they do. I don't hide my rituals, I think that it is more important to let him know and experience them, so that he can see that there are different religions, different paths, and that all of them can be good alternatives to a rich spiritual life and connection to higher forces (or lower for that matter).

I think it is important to take the time and really sit down and talk with the kids when they have questions about these things. Without prejudice, and without restrictions on what is right and what is wrong.

It is not so long ago that we had a conversation about Jesus, the Devil and Thor with the Hammer. We also talked about that Christians believed in one God while heathens had several Gods. He concluded all by himself that he did not believe in the Devil, and therefore not the christian God either, he believed in several Gods. In Jesus and Thor with the Hammer. Of course, I could have told him that Jesus and Thor is a not so good match, but I didn't. I want him to think for himself, and I would not be letting him doing that if I told him that Jesus and Thor actually aren't such good friends normally. I have faith in my Gods, and I am not afraid that they will let my son down. To be a happy heathen today, you have to dare to think for yourself, to be different.

I had another starting point when I was a child, but I landed as a druid heathen. It wouldn't be the end of the world if my son ends up being a christian, I just hope that he will put a druid in front of his religious title

[Lily]

point out to him, maybe, that if Jesus is the son of JHWH, and he doesn't believe in that one, how about Jesus?

[illion]

Yes, the conversation could be going on, and that would be a good follow-up question to his musings. His attention span is not too long, he is only six years old, and suddenly he had to climb a tree and be "spiderman", you know. Right in the middle of our religious conversation

I like to ask him questions for him to answer, instead of giving him answers that correspond with my faith.

[Muddy Fox]

Being an ageing mother of four, I would say it is what goes on at home that counts. The dialogue, the communication with your children, which gives them them the capacity and maturity to think and decide for themselves.
All of my children attended the local C of E primary and junior school. They found the assemblies and Christmas and Easter plays tedious. None of them believe in Christianity, they are young adults now, and are not following any spiritual path at this time in their lives.
What I find quite ironic is that the headmaster of the school that they all attended and who put on a very good, good Christian front, was recently suspended from his post, for viewing pornographic websites, whilst at work. Mind you it said in the local paper that the village Vicar supported him through his dilemma by giving a character reference. The behaviour was out of character and due to family breakdown apparently. I wasn't going to and resisted it for a while but the "W word" comes to mind, sorry if I offend those of delicate sensibilities!
So how do you think kids feel when "apparently respectable middle class, Christian professionals", have another side to them? Lack of trust in authority figures is predominant in the younger generation for precisely these reasons.
So home is the best teaching ground I feel, you are the mother, do what is best.