I don’t come from a particularly religious family.
My parents didn’t go to church every week, but they did drop me off for Sunday School every Sunday until I was in about 8th grade, when I was confirmed. After that, my parents left it up to me whether or not I wanted to go.
So that was the end of church for me.
When my brother died, I was 16.
Then I really questioned the whole religion thing and the existence of God.
If there was a God, I thought, why would he allow this to happen to a little three-year-old boy?
Now that I’m a mom, I’m starting to feel a little differently. The whole childbirth thing is pretty miraculous. I still don’t know exactly how I feel. But I do feel that I’ve dropped the ball with the kids — I’ve mentioned this before.
Number 5 and 6’s preschool is in a church. The perfect church for our family to attend.
I was just feeling the I-haven’t-given-my-children-any-exposure-to-religion guilt, again, the other week.
Then I took Number 5 to her 4-year physical last Tuesday. She had to have an eye test, the one with the pictures, since she doesn’t know all her letters yet.
Every time the nurse pointed to the plus sign, or cross, as the nurse told her it was (because most 4-year-olds don’t know math symbols yet), Number 5 just stood there.
She had no idea what it was.
Eh. No big deal. I’m sure she’s not the only one.
I shrugged it off.
Then I went out with CCB the other night. Somehow we ended up talking about preschool.
Number 5 had a dance recital there last year, and CCB came to watch.
Number 3 rode with her in her car to the church.
I forgot to remind CCB where the kids actually went to preschool, and she asked Number 3 where it was.
His reply?
“Oh, it’s that building right there.
You know.
The one with the really big plus sign on it.”
Okay.
Two days in a row.
Two different children.
And no clue what the hell a cross is.
If that’s not a sign from God,
I don’t know what is. 😉
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!!!
All you need to do is click on the banner above to register a vote for me!Â
You can vote one time every 24 hours from every computer and cell phone! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! I really appreciate your support!
Check out and “like” the not-your-average-mom.com facebook page!
Follow me on Twitter @mom_not_average
ok maybe I’m just not with it yet this morning since I’m taking a vacation day…but I am from a VERY religious family…we go to church most Sundays…and I stared at that eye chart for several minutes trying to find the cross…HAHAHA I thought they were plus signs…maybe I’m the only one that finds the irony in that or maybe just the humor…have a great day!
I think they are plus signs. But Number 5 is only 4, so the nurse called it a plus sign, or a cross, or a “t”. Definitely not technically a “t” either.
FUNNY! I actually see that as a plus sign on that eye test, as opposed to a cross. The plus sign is more even, in terms of where the longitude line intersects the latitude line. Anyway, I would think that if they had intentionally put a symbol of Christianity, an actual cross, on the eye test, wouldn’t someone insist on a Star of David? A buddhist Dharmachakra? It’s a plus sign, for sure.
When my daughter was about 4, and she took the eye test at the doctor’s office, she identified the teacup as a “coffee cup.” The nurse said, “I think I know what Mom’s favorite morning beverage is.”
So I added in one little sentence after your comment.
I know that’s not technically a cross. But Number 5, who is only 4, has no idea what a plus sign is yet, so that’s what the nurse called it.
Although that is the Red Cross symbol…
We’re in the same boat, Susie. We never go to church. We want to, but since my husband and I are different religions, we’re not sure what to do. On the other hand, my parents are super-religious. My dad just walked up a mountain to a Catholic pilgrimage site in Croatia barefoot. I’m interested to hear what you guys decide to do!
Great posts as always 🙂 i think spirituality is important, us humans need that
http://www.laidbackmama.com
I was brought up religious and went to Catholic school for grades K-12. I felt disconnected as I got older from church. I go to church sometimes, but it is such a hassle with the kids. My husband has zero interest in going to church, so it is all on me.
So I signed my daughter up for religious education classes and she is making her communion this year. I think I did it more out of Catholic guilt than my own connection with God. Good luck with your decision!
A very similar thing happened to me. My kid loudly blurted out, Why is that guy carrying a big wooden plus sign? when we took him to church one Easter (age 8). Started going to church regularly afterwards.