I have a concern. Mila, my five-year old, is going through a phase. Not long ago, while we were working on her spotlight poster of favorites for school, I asked her if she wanted me to include a picture of her from Halloween because she loves it so much.
She replied, "Mom, I loved Halloween when I was a little girl. Now that I'm older, I love Christmas because it's Jesus' birthday."
"How precious," I thought, as I patted myself on the back for being such a good parent. (Hey, give me a break, I can't feel totally insecure and frustrated all the time.)
Now, by itself, the above incident should indeed be classified as one of those moments I "have to write down." However, put alongside the following incidents, I no doubt feel you will share my concern.
1) So, a few weeks went by and my friend Rachel and I were out walking with our kids. Rachel casually asked Mila what she wanted to be for Halloween.
Mila said, "Well, I really don't want to say because people might laugh at me."
I said, "Mila, you should probably tell me so I can assemble your costume."
"OK...I'm going to be the Holy Ghost."
As I struggled to contort my face to have a perfectly normal look of curiosity on it, I asked, "Why do you want to be that?"
"Well, I just really want to tell people what these holidays are really about!"
2) The next day was a Saturday and we were just driving in the car, going nowhere interesting.
"Mom, are you thinking about the Last Supper?"
"Um, no..."
"On Saturdays, you should think about the Last Supper, so you better start."
3) The next day, Sunday, we were getting ready for church at noon and I was getting the kids snacks. I asked Mila what she wanted.
"Just bread and water."
"Are you sure? I'm cutting up an apple."
"I'm sure, I only want bread and water."
I didn't even catch on until she was eating her bread and water and smiling secretly. I should have known!
4) We were watching Prince of Egypt (Mila's choice) and during the opening sequence, Mila started to "pretend" cry.
"Oh you guys, I'm just so happy because this movie is about Jesus."
"It's about Moses."
(Pause in crying as she thinks) "He knew Jesus."
So there. I rest my case. My daughter is either a full-blown religious freak, or this is just some "thing" all kids go through. She's my oldest, so I have no idea! Parents, help me out here. Is this normal, or should I start swearing more to balance the equation?
You know, truth be told, I'm not too worried...yet. She still laughs way too hard at poo jokes.
9 comments:
Looks like our mini unibrain has got a whole mind and spirit of her own. It must be crushed. Oh, I kid. But seriously, the Holy Ghost for Halloween? What WOULD the costume be like? I have a 6 year old nephew who reads the Book of Mormon for an hour everyday. These little people are so smug!
Oh my gosh--what have you people turned my sweet little niece into??? haha...just kidding. That is so funny though--it's hilarious that she picks up on so much and really thinks about it all like that. I'm sure she'll get over it eventually. If not, you guys need to get outta Utah--fast!
Maybe she needs to hang out with my daughter some more. Cora can teach Mila all about evolution and what "really" happened to the dinosaurs. And Mila can teach her all kinds of things that I'll have difficulty answering. Plus, I swear enough for the both of us.
hilarious. None of my children went through a religious phase. Should I be worried. Miles did, however, make up an interesting story called 'Jesus and the Wolf' that I should tell you about.
Miles asked me why there isn't a holiday celebrating the "Big Bang. . ." I told him "it's a theory, it's a theory!" I went RIGHT to the Bible and read to him about the creation. Sheesh! I can't wait to see that costume!
Oh, Hailey...that is HILARIOUS. That is currently my favorite story. On a similar note, I did have my daughter, three at the time, waiting for me to get home from work one evening. She was on the couch, arms folded, look of concern. The exact pose I assume I will have when she is 16 and it's 1:30 a.m., and I have been waiting up for her. She told me that we needed to talk. Then she told me that I was saying a word that made Jesus sad. This alarmed me because I couldn't for the life of me think of what it could be. It also alarmed me because we had never used guilt as a teaching / disciplinig tool, but here she had picked it up already. When I asked her what it was, she was afraid to say it. When I pressed for it, she finally said, in the calmest, cutest three year old voice: "Oh my crap."
April, how about a dinosaur museum field trip? I get 50% off!
Oh, Miles...
And Ken, that is a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing!
What a funny girl. The costume should be a traditional ghost costume with holes cut out all over.
The holy ghost. haha.
Well,... Mila and Aydan must have a plan---one that they decided over the family reunion in August. Last Sunday, Bret had to work and as we were coming back into Sacrament meeting after taking Aydan to the bathroom, Aydan asked whether Daddy was coming later to church. When told that he was working, Aydan said, "Oh, dear, that's going to make Heavenly Father upset. Daddy needs to be here at church, to make Heavenly Father happy..."
Now tell me, just what are they teaching in that Star A class?
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