school starting and.............

[tigger759]

Hi i have a question!
School starts tomorrow(this moms is doing a happy dance!) My daughter is 8 and has been studying the tarot with me and hubby this summer. She wants to take her cards to school but i won't let her? She's rather made at me but being in the district we are in i'm worried i'll get that phone call? We just moved and i told her to wait it out a bit and see what goes on.
Just thought i'd see what thoughts were on that matter!

[Earth Walker]

It is better to be firm, and see that she only uses the Tarot
at home....otherwise she could be incessantly taunted or
seriously hurt.

[Hope]

OH I am swept over by a bit of worry for you.
I really think you made the right decision, I know here in Idaho my daughter was told by her "friends" that her mom was going to hell and that she was practicing evil. And I also got phone calls from parents. My daughter was about 7 and not prepared for the responses she got. Of course she had snuck them to school in her back pack after I said you know I don't think you should take them.

Good luck and Blessings with whatever you choose!
hope

[Faery-Wings]

My son is starting kdg today (yikes:ahhhh: ) and as I have written before, he is very nervous about it. I saw a porcelain dragon pendant in a store last week . My dh and I thought that he could wear it to help him feel strong. Then we started to think that either he wears it outside of his clothes and who knows what people will think. Or he wears it inside he clothes and he would be likely called sissy or whatever for wearing a necklace. So we ended up not getting it.

He has a bloodstone and I just tucked it into his pocket. I told him to keep in it there and not take it out so it won't get lost. But I also am nervous that someone else might see it and not "get it." It is a hard call. here, tarot cards might be ok- as long as people think of them as New Age-y (that is how I pass off a lot of my things LOL). And a crystal on me would be fine, I am not sure how well it would go over on a 5 yo.

I hope your daughter understands why she should leave them home. Especially if you are new inthe area- you might want to feel out how "open" people are. You might even try to say to her that she wouldn't want to expose them to so many poeple and energies...

Good luck to you and have a great school year!!!!

Chris

[Mariposa De La Luna]

I think you did the right thing.

I don't think an 8 yr old could handle any of the negativities that may come once she showed them to everyone and then the parents found out. My daughter is 8 also and we tell her that other people wouldn't understand certain things about us and what may happen. She knows she wouldn't want to come into contact with that and doesn't know how well she could handle it, she's timid, so keeps quiet on the Pagan aspects of our life.

It depends on the child though. My daughter wasn't raised Pagan and we've just started going to circle and she's just getting the idea of religion in her life. She isn't prepared to answer questions and defend her family's choices. I think it'll be hard when she's 13, has a fair grasp of paganism, and wants to wear a pentacle to school. She may be emotionally and intellectually ready but will I be? :ahhhh: BTW I am parent-noid! I don't want anyone hurting my baby because of our way of life. :D

[Lavender]

I had made my son a special power bracelet to wear. It's the latest fad here so he doesn't get teased. You can pick crystals that are a bit more "manly" & not so pretty. :) It makes him feel more protected & reminds him that I love him. Also, if you're thinking of a necklace, you can string cyrstal beads on a leather lace...not quite as "sissy" for the boys.

[tigger759]

thanks for all the replies i think she understands but who knows!
But all in all the day was a good one so far!

[reanna]

You know what really bites??????

That we are even forced as parents to have to make decisions like that!

I struggle with this too.

I teach the children tolerance and to respect people for thier individuality. I have taught them that if they don't agree with someone's viewpoint, it is okay to voice an opinion, but not to ostracise, be oppressive, and to be understanding about diversity. I have told them that diversity is a beautiful thing. They are good, loving little wonders. I have taught them to stand up for themselves and thier beliefs....... yet, I am also indirectly teaching them some lessons that I never wanted to teach them.

That not everyone can be understanding and impartial and open minded. That our fellow human beings, whom I refer to the divine diversity; that for the most part, makes up the beauty of this planet. I am also teaching them shame and to lie.

Yet, in some circumstances, you really have no other choice. I have also taken them time to explain to them both why I feel it is necessary, and it breaks my heart to do so.

Kids by nature can be the most ruthless and cruel little people. Especially, if they are raised in an environment that doesn't have any respect for diversity and individuality. Children act what they see, hear and are raised in. Essentially, until they are older, they are a product of their environment. They follow what we teach them and not all people lead a good example. Not that I have any mind to even begin to try and tell anyone how to raise their children, but some of the basics should be taught. Respect for all living things regardless of race,color, religion or opinion.
It pains me to see what happens on the school grounds when no grown ups care to intercede. It bothers me tremendously to see little "janie" run off the playground in tears because she happens to be Asian and the kids don't understand why she doesn't look like the rest of them.

I worry terribly about all the children. They are our future. I teach children for that reason. I will be a truly happy spirit if I can leave this world, and have touched even 1 child's life by an example I have taught them.


Wow! That got long kinda fast....sort of way of topic too. OOps!
Sorry bout that :D

Anyway, in a nutshell, I guess I worry about what other reprecussions my actions with my own two children may have for them. Will, they tend to live in a shell, because I taught them shame even if it was in their best safety interests? Will they turn into really good con artists later because I taught them to lie?
What do you guys think?

[Socharis]

Originally posted by Mystique
It is better to be firm, and see that she only uses the Tarot
at home....otherwise she could be incessantly taunted or
seriously hurt.

I agree with mystique on this one.

[tigger759]

Reanna i don't think so. It sounds to me like you are teaching your kids to be indivuals and not follow the crowd! which is a great thing!
I try to let my kids know that we all like and do different things that others may not approve of but if you aren't hurting anyone then it's okay!

[Anwyn]

I wasn't raised Pagan, but I wasn't raised with a very popular religion either. My parents just always told me not to make an issue out of it, but to answer people's questions when they brought it up. I wasn't allowed to take any of my books to school, but I was allowed to wear my religious jewelry. Looking back on it, I think it wasn't too bad of an arrangement. I was only seriously harassed about it a couple of times, and that was usually by kids who already didn't like me for another reason. When I had friends over to my house, our religion became pretty obvious, but by then I trusted them enough to know that they wouldn't make fun of me for it.

When I was in high school, my then-boyfriend (now fiance, how little these things change...) gave me my first set of Tarots. At first I took them everywhere with me, in a little pocket of my backpack, because I was scared my mom would find them. Then I managed to find the little niche of Pagans in my high school, and my Tarots found their way out of my backpack every now and then.

My point is just that its probably best to wait until your child has found people who won't make fun of them for their religious beliefs before broadcasting it. Its important for children to have friends, and so wearing something like this on their sleeve is generally not the best idea. I'm not saying hide it, or lie about it, I'm just saying keep it simple, give people a chance to get to know you as you first, rather than you as a Pagan.

Anyway, just my two cents.

~Anwyn

[cheyenne]

I understand your concern, when my son was 6 he went to a B'day party at a friend's house & the subject of religion came up( at a 6 year old's party!!) & my son said "some people do not believe in the devil." I was called immediately & was told he could not ever come over again & then they told all of the parents of his friends that we worshipped Satan! Needless to say most of the parents would not let their kids play anymore. I think you did the right thing. We have moved & my kids have found it is better to keep religion private

[mol]

;)

Keep Tarot at home...school is for learning...not divination. :p