I have no idea what to do in regard to handling comment and questions from in-laws to the kids. Thing about Santam Easter Bunny, etc. Things that don't fit within our beliefs. Any tips from anyone been there/ done that?
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CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
Non-christian in- laws?
- Thread starter greenessa
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Non nobis domine sed tuo nomine da gloriam
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Sure. Just tell them you appreciate their efforts but you want to be the one to instruct them regarding those issues.greenessa said:
Just a side note. If your view is that you are against those things then do your children a favor and don't take them to family gatherings where they do celebrate those things. It's not really fair to your child to have to sit and watch a bunch of other kids doing an Easter egg hunt or opening presents from "Santa." If this doesn't apply then just disregard.
God bless
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Entertaining_Angels
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We don't ban those things but we don't celebrate them either in our home either. If we go elsewhere, we don't make a big deal of it but we let the kids enjoy whatever is going on. I did finally talk to MIL. She kept buying us santa stuff for Christmas. I finally told her that we did not want to make a big deal of santa and she was deeply offended. She told me that her kids grew up with 'santa' and they are just fine. Since then, I just pack up the santa stuff and give it to Goodwill.
I think if you just talk to your children and share the true meaning of these days, you won't need to worry quite as much from 'shielding' them from the world.
I think if you just talk to your children and share the true meaning of these days, you won't need to worry quite as much from 'shielding' them from the world.
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Jenna
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We went through some of that this past Christmas, with the santa thing. I just made a point to tell someone when they mentioned it, that we weren't doing santa. Instead, I tell them that we're making the birth of Jesus the focal point of our holiday. So far we've gotten some funky looks, some small protests about our choice, but mostly quiet acceptance.
As far as easter egg hunts and stuff, that's never really been an issue. It's fun to look for hidden things, and we leave it at that. We don't bother lying to our daughter about some bunny who delivers eggs. It never made any sense to me as a child, and she's bright enough to probably feel the same way. lol Anywho, so we never even bothered mentioning that bit of pretend. We stick to bible stories, and just do fun things for the sake of them being fun. We don't connect them to the holiday at all. Eggs are just fun, and make a handy multi-colored potato salad.
lol
As far as easter egg hunts and stuff, that's never really been an issue. It's fun to look for hidden things, and we leave it at that. We don't bother lying to our daughter about some bunny who delivers eggs. It never made any sense to me as a child, and she's bright enough to probably feel the same way. lol Anywho, so we never even bothered mentioning that bit of pretend. We stick to bible stories, and just do fun things for the sake of them being fun. We don't connect them to the holiday at all. Eggs are just fun, and make a handy multi-colored potato salad.
lol
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Entertaining_Angels
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You know, the bunny and santa were never a huge deal to me as a child either. Funny thing, though, now I'm craving a nice potato salad.Jenna said:It never made any sense to me as a child, and she's bright enough to probably feel the same way. lol Anywho, so we never even bothered mentioning that bit of pretend. We stick to bible stories, and just do fun things for the sake of them being fun. We don't connect them to the holiday at all. Eggs are just fun, and make a handy multi-colored potato salad.
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Jenna
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Heeheehee..... Well, I just hope that it isn't multi-colored at this time of year.
We did 'santa' when I was a kid, but I always had a niggling suspicion that it was my parents. I wasn't upset or anything to find out that it was them. To me, it makes it more special to know that someone who loves me would go through so much effort to give me an extra special day, than to think up ways for some round red-faced stranger to sneak into my house. lol
We did 'santa' when I was a kid, but I always had a niggling suspicion that it was my parents. I wasn't upset or anything to find out that it was them. To me, it makes it more special to know that someone who loves me would go through so much effort to give me an extra special day, than to think up ways for some round red-faced stranger to sneak into my house. lol
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Entertaining_Angels
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Jenna said:Heeheehee..... Well, I just hope that it isn't multi-colored at this time of year.
We did 'santa' when I was a kid, but I always had a niggling suspicion that it was my parents. I wasn't upset or anything to find out that it was them. To me, it makes it more special to know that someone who loves me would go through so much effort to give me an extra special day, than to think up ways for some round red-faced stranger to sneak into my house. lol
Have you read "The Five Love Languages" books? I am completely and totally a 'gifts' persons. Doesn't mean I want lots of stuff. To me, I feel loved knowing somebody put time and effort into a gift no matter what it might be. I spend so much time choosing or making gifts for people. I don't want gifts from Santa. I would rather receive gifts from people who love me and, even more, I'd rather give gifts to people I love.
Also, I pity the round red-faced stranger who tries to sneak into this house
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We have the opposite problem with the in-laws they are too religious! At Christmas they don't put up ant trimmings and don't even want to see any of their family because they love Jesus so much...
So we just have a good time without them.
So we just have a good time without them.
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Mrs. Enigma
Transformers was awesome!!!!
We do not celebrate Christmas or Easter because of their pagan origins. I have nice in-laws, and we only need to make an ocasional comment. We tend not to go over very much if their house is alll decorated up and she gives the kids each an unrapped gift in the fall, so that satisfies some of her desire to give gifts. Just be really firm to them about your beliefs, while still being loving.
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I have non Christian in-laws and so far we have just explained it to the kids and left it alone. Kids have such a wonderful pure faith that they are often the ones to bring things up, but there are still some issues that they don't understand, ie reading the Bible on Christmas morning BEFORE opening gifts, gasp.
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well, we had a problem with our inlaws, in fact we still get the snide comments every now and then (my mother does it too) we dont do santa, or the easter bunny or the tooth fairy or any of it. they act like we are taking something away from their grandchildren, and of course, think they know better. We jsut had to put our foot down, tell them that we are their parents and leave it at that. My kids know the truth behind the reasons that we celebrate christmas and easter, and they know not to 'spill the beans' to other kids (their cousins still believe at 10 and 9) 
surprisingly we had a bigger problem with halloween... costumes were even bought for them and everything.
surprisingly we had a bigger problem with halloween... costumes were even bought for them and everything.
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