August Collab

Topic#2: Pagan Parenting (with thanks to Cheryl) For those with children (or plan to have children,) how are you going to handle being a Pagan parent? Are children to be dedicated at birth or will they be able to chose their spiritual path later? How do you explain topics like reincarnation, curses, and magic to a six year old? A ten year old? What about when your child comes home and asks why you don't celebrate -Christ-mas? Or when your child is being teased by other children and their parents for their religious beliefs?

This is a topic that has come up quite often in some of my lists that I belong to. There are so many differing opinions. I tried to find some of these conversations, but I just didn’t have any luck. Perhaps I will add links later to enhance my collab.

I think it is important for a child to be aware of all religions and to have a healthy understanding of at least two or three. Fortunately, my husband feels the same way and that will make things easier. I will probably send my son to bible school, but when he asks why I don’t go to church, I will be honest and say that I don’t believe things the same way they do. He probably won’t ask for a while, so my thought is that he will learn much before he decides not to go because mommy and daddy doesn’t go or doesn’t believe. Or perhaps he will want to go. I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

As my son is only two, I talk about Mother Earth a lot and ways to protect her, by throwing away trash and not throwing it on the ground. Also, I try to recycle, but I don’t do that as much as I should. I think when we get our own place, I will have specific places for recyclables, like I had when we lived in Germany where recycling is mandatory.

I also buy books that are earth friendly and that seem to have an underlying pagan tone, about Earth and all living things. He loves animals and being outside so we do a lot of things that encourages that as well as teaches him about life.

He goes to bed early, so we haven’t really shown him the Moon yet. I want his first occasion to be something wonderful and perfect, not just “hey, Kevin, look at the moon,” but preferably something almost ritualistic in nature.

As he grows, I’m sure my plans will change here and there. I don’t know what kind of beliefs he will have, but whatever he decides, at least I know that I gave him options to learn about various religious traditions so that he can make an “educated” as well as spiritual decision.

Blessed Be!