The informality of family life is a blessed condition that allows us all to become our best while looking our worst. ------ Marge Kennedy
Hooray!! Spring has finally sprung. Not here where I live, but I understand somewhere in the world it is spring and I am happy for everyone who is breaking out the bikes and the barbeques. Happy belated Easter to everyone as well. Easter has sparked some interesting discussion in our household. Let me explain:
The Thursday before Easter weekend, my son asked why people are sad on God Friday and happy on Easter Sunday. It seems my son has been talking to the neighbour child and has learned a thing or two about Easter. I should point out that although I grew up going to Catholic school, my children have never been to church. We have had discussions about God and Heaven (thanks to the neighbour child we also know all about death). However, we have never discussed Jesus or the concept of religion in general. I am inadvertently raising little atheists.
How to explain Easter to someone with no frame of reference? Keep in mind that my son has at this point been talking to his friends and the neighbour child. It doesn't help that we live in a predominantly Catholic neighbourhood. Plus I made a vow to always answer my children's questions honestly and to the best of my ability.
So I begin what I think is an age appropriate and brilliant explanation. I explain that earth was once a very bad place to live, people were mean to each other and there was lots of fighting and war. So God sent his son Jesus to earth to help the people. I explained that we celebrate his arrival on Christmas and on Easter Jesus died (the neighbor child told him Jesus was killed) on Good Friday. On Sunday people were happy because Jesus went to heaven. That is why we are sad on Good Friday and happy on Sunday.
I know, right? I am a genius. Short and sweet. No complicated discussions. This parenting thing is no problem.
My son ponders this explanation, then come the questions:
"But how did Jesus die? If Jesus was helping the people why did they kill him?"
Me: "Uh well....Some people did not want help, and some people did not like Jesus. No I don't know why they didn't like him, they just didn't. So they killed him."
"So he came back to life on Sunday? Did he walk around?"
Me (with laughter from my husband): "Umm no. No one saw Jesus after that, he just went back to heaven to be with God. The people were happy for him cause he got to go to Heaven, but they were sad because he wouldn't be on earth anymore."
"Maybe he was happy because he could play hockey. Dad, do they play hockey in Heaven?"
Hubby (barley looking up from blackberry): "I don't know. Probably"
My son: "What is the hockey team in Heaven called?"
Hubby: "This is so going on facebook. Now son let's go play hockey downstairs"
Yeah, Yeah I know. Less time in the rink and more time in Church.
What interesting discussion have you had with little ones? Leave a comment and tell me about it!
