Newly studying Paganism & Wicca need help

[loveheals]

Hi I am recently studying Pagansim and Wicca and I am really into it. I love it and I feel like I have found what I have been searching for my whole life. My one concern Is for my daughter. I am afraid that when her father(we aren't together anymore) finds out that he will flip. How do I go about changing my lifestyle with this particular arrangement. Her father is very old fashioned Catholic and something like this would probably lead to him trying to take her away. Do i wait until she is older to introduce her into my new found faith ? any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Caren

[bloodstone20]

has custody of her? And are you divorced or handparted? How old is she?

[reanna]

Welcome!!! Pleased to meet ya. :):):):)

That is a really tough decision to make. Only you will probably know best.I wouldn't want to recommend anything that causes heaps of trouble, so I will offer my support in whatever decision you make.
Know that you are always welcome here and that Mystic Wicks makes the world a smaller place. You have loads of new found family here. :):):)

[loveheals]

Hi well she's 5 I have custody of her she lives with me but her father and I have never been on that great of terms, we were never married he left me whn i was five months pregnant but i know he wouldn't approve.

[Yvonne Belisle]

First off I want to say Welcome To Mystic Wicks I think you found a great place. Now as to the other be careful you may want to look into laws for your state in reguards to custody and religion. I am sure that there are plenty of organizations that can help you when you reach that point. As long as you have contact he will eventually find out about your religous choice so just be carefull. You can teach basic core feelings and principles without ever bringing a god or godess into it then as she is older the odds are she will want to know exactly what you believe. I have several christian family members that I talk to about personal belief that have no knowledge that I am Pagan. Just don't include her in rituals yet instil the moral fiber that you are comfortable with and you should both be fine and who knows he might not even find out till she is in high school.

[TheTempestuous1]

Is he actually a good parent? Or kind of an absent dad? Because being that you say he left you when you were pregnant, he doesn't seem like a stand up guy. Does he see your little girl? Because if he doesn't see her very much, it doesn't seem like he really has a choice in the matter. He would have given up his parenting privilages long ago. But I don't know the situation so = ) just do what you feel comfortable with. Like the others said, you can even just instill your values in her. Good luck with your new path!

Meghan

[Hope]

loveheals,

Well I can only suggest what I have done, and it hasn't been a perfect road. My ex became a born again and has even told my kids " mom is going to hell". BUT we celebrate family days, where our family learns something new together. So for example our last family holiday was Aug 1st and we harvested herbs and I taught the kids how to dry them etc. Their father even told them that looks like it was a fun project.
We don't celebrate Christmas but instead Solstice (divorced kids generally have two holidays any way) he thinks he has WON by having Christmas and Easter.
At winter solstice my kids get a calender of events for the next year one each month. We celebrate the 4 high holidays and the solstices and make up 4 holidays. it works for us and they learn by example not by preaching because that is not our way. Hope that makes sense and helps you.

Blessed Be!
Hope

[Krystil_Mist]

Hope,
That's sounds ingenious. It's like getting your kids to celebrate the holidays without telling them or their dad. You get to do special things with your children as a "family day" while they are learning about the traditions without anyone knowing it.

I was trying to figure out how to get my kids involved because I didn't need my 10 year old telling people that mom is a "witch". Lol. I was just going to keep them out of it until they are old enough to know when to keep it to themselves.

My father tells me I need to go to church. His mother said my kids will never go to heaven because they weren't baptized. I think using the "family day" is like the best of both worlds.

O.k. I'll get off my soapbox now. :)
P.S. I'm new here. This was my first post.

[Hope]

Krystil_Mist,

Welcome! And I'm glad the info was useful, my children are now 11 and 13 and are both following the tradition, they just leave out certain details with their dad. Which works fine and they don't feel like they are betraying him because he doesn't care as much about them as about himself anyway.

Blessings!
hope