Pagan Parenting

[Nyxie]

So first off I will say I am a recovering Catholic. Actually I was never baptized or taught doody about it except guilt LOL. My Dad was Catholic and Mom was who knows what (raised Baptist) , she is basically Christian now though. They decided back then that I should decide my own religion since they were two separate ones. I was raised knowing Christmas , Easter, the St. days etc.

My biggest problem (and it really isn't a big one) has been, teaching my kids the right names for our holidays, mainstream media makes this a lot harder than it needs to be in my opinion. We are blasted with Christmas , and Easter commercials , etc.
I have a friend who is published , she writes children's books. My 5 yr old is a big fan of her tales. They teach the wheel of the yr. but my 5 yr old tells me it isn't ostara , it is easter. she says ostara is a wierd name LOL.

So how do YOU as a Pagan parent teach your kids the proper names for the wheel of the year?

 

[Adrena]

First understand I'm Wiccan. My hubby, Lutheran (so he says). We support each others individuality...
Wile Ostara is on or about the 21st of March, Easter is not. So even when our kids where young we would separate the 2 days. Explaining the 21st is the "old ways" from long ago and the way mommy welcomes spring. And the kids "hunted for spring" (eggs). Wile Easter (and all that comes with it) came from daddy's beliefs. On that day the kids got the sweet treats in the basket they hunted with weeks before. The kids don't mind 2 holidays, they learned 2 religions and are free to pick them or not. We really can't do more then that... The fact that hubby and I live in relative harmony within our religions helps.

 

[VaporPhreak]

I guess I don't really have room to talk since we don't have any kids of our own. But as of recently we have been teaching, with her mother's permission of course, our 13 year old neice our ways. She has been interested in it for years (since before we met her, she and her mother are recent additions to the fam) and came to us recently with questions. Her being 13, and fairly mature for her age, we explain each hoiday as it gets close and we all have a good laugh at the Christians doing the same things we are but not knowing where it came from.

 

[VaporPhreak]

Also you might find this useful: http://www.pookapages.com/

 

[Adrena]

Also you might find this useful: http://www.pookapages.com/

I have never come across that Awesome site, Thank you.

 

[VaporPhreak]

I think I am going to put a sticky up sometime this weekend with a bunch of web resources, books, podcasts, youtube links, etc. that can be added to overtime. Would anyone find that useful?

 

[Nyxie]

Links are a good idea VP.

I think my problem is there is no big commercial HooHa over Ostara like there was Easter for instance and this was the first time the baby has questioned things.

I have a friend named Kyrja that has published pagan children's books about the wheel of the year. My 5 yr old is one of her biggest fans. However because she is only just starting to ask about holidays and their meanings she doesn't realize that the Christian and Pagan holidays she learns about are almost the same. She knows that we go to circle and that is just what we do, she doesn't get the why of it yet. The books are great tools but I am having the problem of Christian commercialism I think? Maybe that is my problem LOL.

It doesn't help me to have other non-pagan kids in the house either. DH's kids were raised athiest and he has become more Pagan since we met. His kids think we are all nuts but in a fun way, not nasty LOL. We have to celebrate some religion and no religion, yet all the Christian holidays still creep into our house. I am not saying that is a bad thing , I just can't figure out how to teach our daughter when everyone else in the house was taught differently.

My Mom is really the insistent Christian Holiday queen lol. She tries to learn about ours, but really it is only to show me that she cares about me, she doesn't really care about the holidays I celebrate LOL She asked me this Easter about Ostara so I read one of my friend's stories to everyone after dinner. I thought she would leave in the middle because it is a story but I think that has more to do with maybe she just has add lol.

 

[VaporPhreak]

I think the media and social arenas blasting the Christian holidays is a big part of the issue. I wish I had some real advice to offer here, but you are already doing what we do. We celebrate both holidays. The Christian ones are only really done for Wifey's family, but those are generally relegated to "Family Dinner" days rather than Holidays. They understand and while I do not believe that they fully approve in their heart of hearts they are at least not too preachy about it. Although I am fairly certain her parents think I have damned her to hell. To me, this line of thinking is their problem not mine. The only thing I can say is wait... 5 is a difficult age. At that age we are noticing what others are doing and curious why we are or are not doing the same thing. At that age we strive to be part of the group, as is human nature. The only thing I can suggest is to see if you have a CUUPs group nearby. Look online for a local UU church and most likely they have a CUUPs group. Otherwise trying to get in with a few local open groups can possibly get your 5 year old some exposure to other Pagan kids her age. This might be a way for her to be part of a group, something we are striving for at that age, and still learn the old ways.

 

[VaporPhreak]

OH! Just thought of another resource for you! A podcast call Pagan Parents On The Edge, ran by host couple Fox and Arrowwind, is all about parenting from a Pagan experience point. Most of the podcast are discussion topics, stories, news items and such, but you can always email them and chat with them. They are VERY nice folks! Here is a link to their PodBean Site: Pagan Parents on the Edge