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July 18, 2005

Help wanted

My sister and I have very different views on raising children.

She: Evangelical Christian homeschooling children. Exposing them on a regular basis only to children who inhabit their church. There are no outside sports or extracurricular activities. All of their literature and video viewing is carefully screened to make certain it doesn't contradict with the belief system. They are not to socialize or associate with "unbelievers", except us. And only because they have to sometimes as we're family.

(True story: When my nephew came to visit last year he was appalled that we didn't say grace before the meal. He was sure God would be upset with us for eating without thanking Him first.)

Me: My job is to prepare these individuals for the world. They attend public school. They play sports and participate in extracurricular activities (I require that they each do at least one). They watch the news on TV and they read the paper (although the preteen daughter really only cares about the comics) and they listen to the news on the radio. They ask questions about current events, issues, sex, life...it's my job to give them the answers to the best of my ability. I encourage them ask questions of others about their beliefs and ideas as well.

I love my sister with all my heart. But I'm worried for her kids. I wonder how such sheltered and (in my view) unprepared boys will handle leaving home and taking hold in the big, bad, world.

I'd like to be able to give her boys some books that talk about the real world and real life that might be acceptable to my sister. She'll allow secular literature (I gave my eldest nephew this book for Christmas.) They're 10, 4 and 2. All boys.

It's not as much as I'd like to do...but it's what's allowed for now.

Any ideas?

Posted by Carla at July 18, 2005 07:35 AM