Has it really been a month since I last wrote? I can't believe that. It's been a jam packed month so I'm sad that I didn't share all that we've done. I'll have to put time aside to add some posts. For now, something different than updates and photos but a peak into the struggles of my parenting mind...
We just got back from "Parent's Night" at Lily's school. It's nice to see some old faces from last year, to meet Lily's teachers and to get a sneak peak at the year to come. But there's always this guy who stands up and lectures on some issue. Last year it was uninvolved dads (whom of course weren't there to hear the lecture), this year it was about halloween being evil.
I'm not sure where I stand on the halloween issue. I love Jesus and think I'm pretty conservative and old fashion on my views of life and faith. I do not like sending the mixed message of just for tonight it's okay to go up to strangers and take candy from them. While the whole rest of the year is spend undoing that exact message. I like letting them dress up and pretend play being a ladybug or a bumblebee but really that's a year round activity.
I don't disagree with the anti-halloween message. I'm just nervous that if I say we can't do all the halloween stuff then my girls will feel out casted. Our first halloween Lily wore a hat that said I'm A Pumpkin and next to Timmy's giraffe costume she looked foolish. So the next year we did all the regular activities with both girls. In Lily's art class last year there was a girl who's mom would not let her decorate a pumpkin picture because of these very issues. The other moms looked at this mom as if she was psycho. It takes a lot of guts to stand up like that-but I still wonder is it necessary? I think a lot of the objection is that these traditions (pumpkins, dress up...) all stem from pagan activities. But isn't that true of Christmas? Isn't that why it's in December and there are trees and lights and so on. And for that matter, Easter too? Should we not celebrate holidays because of the pagan influence? Probably we shouldn't. I mean I don't care for Harry Potter for that very reason. Christmas and Easter can and should be focused on Jesus and not Santa or Easter Bunny, but halloween points to well nothing redeeming.
I guess, I don't want to send mix messages, instill negative values or even just give them sugar highs at 8pm. My friend and I happened to talk about this very thing earlier today. She lets her kids go to the town sponsored trick or treat event downtown. Then they come home and hand out all the candy they collected to the trick or treaters on her block. I love that idea. Maybe we can have a holiday party at our house. There must be other parents who are feeling conflicted about this as well, who'd like to have an alternative. Maybe there already is an alternative? I'm a relatively new Christian, well relatively new at actually growing and living out in my faith. And I realize that it's very early to be talking about halloween. Except that the halloween stuff is already on sale and Lily wants to know what all that scary stuff is about? Eventually the issue will become an issue - probably not at 3 years old - what will I do?
I feel more anti-halloween after writing this, but is that being just a bit too psycho? And why does the spell check want me to capitalize halloween? Does it really deserve that honor?
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2 comments:
I'm glad you brought this up. It is a tough issue. Before our kids were old enough to know better, Conrad and I were totally opposed on the issue. I was SO NOT going to do Santa, Easter Bunny, Halloween, Tooth Fairy, etc., you get the idea.
Then my kids got old enough to have friends and all my good intentions went out the window. So if you decide to stick to your guns about it, good luck, and all the more power to ya!
What we do to minimize the not-so-great influences of the holidays is just to portray a lot of it as just a fun little game. At Advent/Christmas we emphasize the coming of Christ and what we can do for others in His name. Santa, the elves, the decorations are there in the background, but it's just a fun game and not really stressed at all.
Lent/Easter we focus on repentance, redemption, and ressurrection and get the kids really involved in those messages. The Easter Bunny is there, but again, fun game and time for a sugar high ;-)
Halloween is a little different. Yeah, we do dress up in fun (NOT scary or evil-inspired) costumes and go trick-or-treating as a type of fun little game, but usually it's at the parties before halloween. On the night of October 31st we are dressed up as a saint of their choice and having an All Saints Day Party. We try to really bring home the message of the faithful who have gone before us and how their Godly lives can be an inspiration to us.
And the pumpkin thing is representing how grateful we are for all the harvests that God has provided.
So anyway, my (long, drawn-out) point is that if you are still conflicted, it *is* possible to play the game while teaching the children the real meanings of what you are celebrating.
great thoughts! do you have an email address? i wanted to respond to your park question!
Megan
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