What Should I Do?

[Antoninus]

I slept over at my sister's house a few days ago because were getting new carpeting. Since there is little extra floor-space, I had to share a room with my 6 year old niece, she slept in her bed and I slept on the floor. As I was laying down, I noticed Courtnee placing a shiny new penny on her window-sill. Curious, I inquired as to what the purpose of that was, her reply was....interesting. "Im giving it to the little butterfly people." A few more questions revealed that she often set things out for "the little butterfly people", usually small things, a shiny coin, a piece of crystal, an odd shaped rock, a bottle cap, a shiny piece of plastic etc. She also said that they did things for her when she gave them things. Annother set of inquiries revealed that "the little butterfly people" healed her cuts and bruises, made headaches and stomach aches go away, make her feel better when she cried, made her feel happy when she was lonely. At first I thought it was maybe an immaginary friend, I had one when I was a kid so why shouldnt my niece do the same thing? I lay there, trying to sleep, trying to figgure out what she meant by "the little butterfly people". There werent many options, and at the top of the list was Faeries. So she gives things to the faeries, and they in turn help her out. At first I discounted the idea as the immagination of a 6 year old, but as I turned the idea over in my head, the more sense it seemed to make. Her brother, Shawn, gets cuts and scrapes all the time, Courtnee runs around MUCH more than Shawn and she never seems to have a scratch. Plus my sister is noticing that Courtnee doesnt get sick. Shawn right now has a bad flu, but Courtnee is healthy as can be.

My question is, should I teach Courtnee about the Faeries and what they are and maybe about Paganism (Teach mind you, NOT preach)? Or should I let it alone? The Faeries visiting her seem to be happy and my niece is happy, so part of me says "Leave it alone" but annother part wants to teach her atleast who Faeries are. Keep in mind, shes only 6 so I might be over-stepping the comprehension level a touch. Allthough kids are very smart, those of you with kids can verify that. So...what do I do?

[Romani Vixen]

I, personally, would teach her about the mythology... and get her figurines and the like. How would her mother and father feel about you teaching her about paganism?

There out there... and yes... they like shiny pretties!

[asamananara]

Leave it be. She probably knows more about them than you do,
at this point... why fill her head with second hand mis-information?
Why are you in a position to "teach" her anything? Maybe you
can learn something from her... after all, she came by her knowledge
of faeries through interaction with the fey themselves, free
of preconcieved assumptions and prejudice. Why would you want
to taint that? Have you been healed by faeries lately? All
children are pagans at heart- magic is not something which is
learned, it's something we forget. These faeries are a concrete
reality to her right now... the moment you start pulling out the
books and "teaching" her, they will become mere abstractions.
Was your imaginary friend only imaginary when you were a child?
No... let her live the magic and mystery of innocence.

[Dextra]

I would leave it be. I remember as a child being able to communicate with all manner of creatures...fairies, if you wanted to call them that. It wasn't until an adult stepped in and tried to define them for me that they seemed to disappear. The kid has something special. The fairies take to the innocent because they haven't been inundated with the ideals of the rest of the world. I remember when my girls were almost 2, the communicated with something at night. I'm not too sure what it was, because my jaded and world-weary eyes won't let me see so much anymore, but whatever it was, it entertained them when they would wake up at night until they went back to sleep. I heard one of them babbling in their cribs one night, so I peeked in to see what was going on. Jackie was standing up in her crib and was looking in an empty corner giggling her little head off at whatever was there. The next day I went looking at that corner, and I definetly picked up a little energy residue, but I noticed that the girls had left some of their smaller, shinier toys (as well as some of my hair barrettes!) in that corner, all piled in one spot. I left them alone, and added a couple of things. I wanted to thank whatever it was for letting me have a full nights sleep!

[banondraig]

i'd have to agree with everyone else, especially asamananara. the situation reminds me of a "school is hell" cartoon about nursery school. it says "go wild! paint on the walls! paint on the floor! paint on yourself! paint on your friends! spend the rest of your life vainly trying to recapture this spontaneous creativity after they show you how to do it right, and ruin everything."

[Purrcatnip]

I would leave it be, about the fae because if she starts learning about them, she may want to communicate with them more, or ask more from them and they may dissapear from her sight.
However with paganism, I would go ahead and consider teaching her, if her parents would allow it. Just teach her simple thigns like candle magic, it will help her when she gets older. :colorful:

[Antoninus]

Yeah, what asamananara said is what Im affraid of happening. Shes already in school so im affraid someones going to tell her that theyre monsters or not real. Shes a shocking realist, she doesnt believe in anything unless she can see and touch it, she never bought that Santa Clause stuff or the Easter Bunny. Im a little....hesitant to teach her about Paganism atleast till shes older because Im affraid she'll fall into the same trap that I did when I was young. I thought magic was like in the videogames, fireballs and lightning bolts and death rays. So Im thinking of waiting atleast till shes a teenager to teach her something. I dont know how my sister would handle it, she'd probably be ok with it, a little wierded out but ok with it.

[Cresentarm]

Antonius, I think she already knows about them, all she needs to know. And a very lucky little girl she is too... :floating:

[WhiteDragon]

Mabe I should start leaving things out for them in my daughter's window... And mine... (lol)

But No I would not teach her anyhting about them., I wouls leave (leave, get it, leave? lol) it alone!

Maybe you could just talk with her and learn from her.

[Antoninus]

Ive decided to let her do as she pleases, Id like to teach her but I realize I may screw up the balance that exists here. When shes older, maybe 15-16 Ill see about teaching her about Pagaism in general, by then who knows what could happen. They might take her to be thier Queen :D

[Purrcatnip]

Ive decided to let her do as she pleases, Id like to teach her but I realize I may screw up the balance that exists here. When shes older, maybe 15-16 Ill see about teaching her about Pagaism in general, by then who knows what could happen. They might take her to be thier Queen :D
very true, didnt think about the bad things that could happen by teaching.. oo.ill be jealous if she was their queen.

[Calzaer]

I'd say just reassure her that her senses are in perfect working order, no matter what anyone else tells her down the road. The important part is to let her KEEP the senses she percieves the butterfly people with - teaching need not come until later, if at all.