I don't know who God is. It's a hard thing when your child is so rooted in something that you were once deeply rooted in. What do you do when he asks you to pray for his tummy ache? I tried to help him think positively that his tummy would feel better. It felt weak and I felt guilty. But why? Just because I don't know? How do I explain to my 5 year old that I don't know, and that it's up to him to make his own spiritual journey uniquely his, and not follow blindly? I'm confused about how to go about all of this. I do believe that we are here part of some crazy cosmic something. I don't think two rocks bashed together and formed us. If that were true than who formed the two rocks? For me, there is a Creator. And he/she must be so far out of our grasp that it would probably destroy our brains just trying to figure them out. So for now, how do I teach my child to love everyone? To accept everyone? To embrace differences? How do I stop the Christian judgment chip from being implanted? This morning he called a car a "riceburner". At first I thought it was funny until I realized that his dad had taught him that in a joking manner (I know this because he told me). He had no idea what it meant, but was repeating it because his dad said it and it seemed funny. He likes to use "grown-up" words. It turned into a good opportunity for me to explain that while that may sound funny, it's not the nicest thing you could say ( i explained exactly what the word meant), and also would not be an appropriate thing to say in front of a person of Asian decent. I explained that this "God" has made us all with differences, some vast, some very minute. But they should all be celebrated. No one should be teased because they are different. Once we get in this habit in a small way, it grows to prejudices, even subconscious ones, that we cannot begin to grasp. I don't want my child to be raised with intolerance. That's not the best version of anyone. In the midst of it all, though, it's confusing. I used to be so sure of what I believed to be true or false. Now I'm not so sure, there is so much more gray. So how do you teach your child to find his OWN way, when the other parent is impressing his choice in a much more focused way?

1 Comment

1. Anonymous on March 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM

   i shave my mustache. i'm a girl.