freeshias4me

I have a question...

I grew up not celebrating Christmas, Easter, so on and so forth. Although I am not a regular attendee of services anymore, I still intend on teaching my child not to celebrate these occasions as well... How do I go about doing that, without looking like a hypocrite? My reasons for not attending are personal, not faith-based. So I could explain to her fully WHY I don't celebrate these things, but I don't attend regularly...
(My husband's fine with this arrangement, by the way)

greenbaglady

You know what I think is ultimately going to suck for your kid is having to explain this "personal issue" to every person in the world as she grows up.
Kids in public school have xmas gift exchanges.
Kids in public school have easter egg hunts in the school yard (at least at our public school they do)
Kids in public school have valentine card exchanges
Are you going to take your daughter out of all of these things because of your hangups about the holiday?
Why not give her the option. Don't sway her. If you dont let her at least experience it then she wont have anything to go on if she ever wanted to "celebrate" with her own family one day.
Is it the Santa claus thing LOL or Easter Bunny? I mean I know people who dont believe in telling their kids this ~farse~ so they tell their young kids Santa isnt real and they still give gifts on Christmas to make it special, though they focus more on Jesus--they arent Jewish.
You're the parent tho, you have your reasons, I have to say that its pretty uncommon to just not celebrate such major holidays just "because" I think its going to take a really strong minded little girl to handle the repercussions of other children making fun of her, or her having to leave the classroom during their easter party or xmas party or vday exchange...or all the kids showing off new toys and clothes and goodies that they got when your daughter will get nothing and feel left out.
You might actually be doing more damage then good to be quite honest.

greenbaglady

I forgot to add too that you mentioned services thru your post...are you also saying that you dont want your child to attend church on holidays like Easter and Christmas? I don't think thats entirely terrible to tell your child...not EVERY family goes to church on Easter but they still celebrate it and arent hypocritical....you can tell your daughter the Faith based reasons for Easter and Christmas and just tell her that maybe one day if she wishes to go to church on those days she can attend and you'd take her. I think it's good to let her choose its kind of bad to push away something like that or holidays...i could be completely wrong tho.

kajira

I think it would be helpful for us to know faith based religion you are a part of to help us better understand. I think it would also be a learning opprotunity for us to learn more about other faiths.

tater03

I just seen something like this at my son's school. I am not to sure why they don't celebrate holiday's but this little girl got so upset because she could not participate in the Halloween and the Christmas Parties. It wasn't called Christmas party the school called it a Winter party. I volunteered at both parties and both times she got so upset that she couldn't be involved. The teacher tried to come up with other fun things for her to do but she was just so upset.
I am not to sure how you would go about it. I would just make sure before they start school that they understand why you don't celebrate these holiday's.

draconis

I think the belief's one has is their own between them and their God. Each family will make their own ways and traditions as they see fit. Most school functions are open enough to be inclusive for everyone.

draconis

Liza

I have lots of friends who do nont celebrate these either and they teach their children not to because they really believe what they believe, their kids on growing choose their own paths, some retain the teaching while others do their own thing. I think you should teach your children your faith and let them choose later on. Explain to them as they grow why you don't do things the way others do.

freeshias4me

Draconis and Liza...I appreciate YOUR replies...
I do NOT appreciate, however, being told told I have "hangups" regarding certain things. "Hangups" usually implies lack of knowledge or experience. I have neither.
I was intending to tell my daughter what I believe and why...

swedish

I don't attend regularly either, but I still talk to my kids about my beliefs. I think it's a big part of raising children to teach them what you believe and why. That will probably have more of an impact on the person she becomes than attending a weekly service.

Mrs. Negestie

I am very surprise at some people and how they claim to have a certain religon yet they dont practice it or regurly or go to service to me that means you have no religon.