This past Christmas season, my very bright seven year old was reading a book about Kwanzaa while we were heading somewhere in the minivan. She likes to learn more about things often mentioned briefly to or in front of her... and her school was doing the PC thing of mentioning Kwanzaa, but not really teaching anything about it.
This is the same girl who at six, took me saying that voting is a responsibility not to be taken lightly, especially for women, as a cue to learn everything she could about the election process, the presidency, former presidents and first ladies (who she can now name by sight), the women's sufferage movement, and Susan B. Anthony. Did I mention she was 6 at the time?! It wasn't too long after that we started homeschooling.
But I digress.
So, Shaye speaks up from the backseat, "This book has printed incorrect information." Her spotting something like that wouldn't have surprised me. So I asked her what it said. And she read something along the lines of Kwanzaa, unlike Christmas and Hanukkah, is not a religious holiday. Then she says, "Christmas isn't a religious holiday." I told her that, actually, it was. And then she says, "But we celebrate Christmas and we're not religious. And how is it religious?"
Startled, I replied, "Well honey, we celebrate the commercial form of Christmas- presents, joy, peace on Earth, good will to men, lights, trees, wreaths, sleigh rides, carolling..." and sort of faded out into a shamed quiet. How could my daughter not even know the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Granted, I know that Christmas isn't technically his birth day, but still, she's seven and she has never even heard the story?!??
Which led to me telling her the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, sprinkling it with words like "some people believe" and "even though the date's not accurate".
Which led to the question, "How do you know all of this?" and my answer set of a flurry of questions, whose answers led to more questions, until suddenly it was three days later and my seven year old had just asked me "What is abortion?"
Huh?!??
Which led to me telling her the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, sprinkling it with words like "some people believe" and "even though the date's not accurate".
Which led to the question, "How do you know all of this?" and my answer set of a flurry of questions, whose answers led to more questions, until suddenly it was three days later and my seven year old had just asked me "What is abortion?"
Huh?!??
6 comments:
Looks like you'll have to keep on your toes with her.. smart girl.
She's such a smart cookie!
I have a hard time with Christmas- but it's more the opposite for me. I want it to be about the celebration of Jesus's birth but yet I don't want to go to the extreme of having my kids "miss out" on the presents.
What gets me about Christmas(only slightly related to your post, but I tend to go off on tangents) are the people who get SO pissed off when someone wishes them a Merry Christmas- and yet they still buy all the presents and everything- so, do they not call it Christmas?
What a smart girl....wow!
Questions kids ask! We get lots of those too, especially at the dinner table. Hubby and I look at each other and then wing it.
yes!!!! I am sure this little one might be taking a bit after mama! I love what she is picking up on-webbing of assumptions where conclusions are the only pieces of info that is presented and PRESENTED AS LAW.
Stopping by after you left a comment on my blog earlier this week.
Your daughter is super smart and inquisitive, kind of like my 5 year old son. Lots and lots of questions that I don't always know the answer to, or want to answer. Good luck with her!
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