Are you raising your kids pagan?

[habibidancer]

I've seen a few people post that they have kids. If you do, how old are they?

Are you raising them pagan?

If so, what does that look like at your house?

If not, why not? (there's lots of reasons why not, I don't want you to think it's a judgmental question, I'm just interested in knowing but don't answer if it makes you uncomfortable)

If you have been to open rituals or public pagan events, do you take the kids?

[habibidancer]

Here's some of my answers

My son is 4.5 years old, he's my only. I am raising him pagan. My hubby is not wiccan or a witch. I don't think he defines himself much as anything... but he has no problems with what I do and is okay with whatever I want to teach my son.

Of course, when my son is grown up, if he doesn't want to be pagan, he can choose to be whatever he wants.

Up until recently, we didn't do a whole lot of paganish stuff around our house. I was in a coven and I took my son to all coven events except Samhain and Beltane. He loved being in circle with us all and loved participating in whatever we let him do. Sometimes, he'd get bored and take off for the other room to play with his toys.

Now that I'm on my own, I have been rethinking how I want to "do" my path. In a way, I'm starting over as a witch. But I have a lot of knowledge and experience now from being a part of a coven so now I feel totally comfortable creating a new "tradition" for myself and my family as I go along.

I also have some friends who have some celebrations at their house and they invite friends to celebrate with them. I am actually liking those celebrations better in some ways, as they are geared to be more family-inclusive rather than a coven getting together and allowing a kid or two to be present.

On the home-front though, I am looking to bring my crafting skills to bear and start making our home look more witchy. I recently visited my mom (who is quite xtian) and she made a point of taking my son through every room of the house to show him every cross in every room, knowing he'd ask what they were since he knew nothing of crosses. and ask me why WE didn't have a cross in every room of our house. lol... so we are about to set out making at least one pentacle for every room, and he'll start to learn what it means.

[lorifiya]

I don't yet have kids but I am planning on raising my kids with both wiccan and christian beliefs. Then when their older they can decide what they want to be.

[firemoonw]

Lorifiya both of my son no of the wicca beliefs but follow both, I AM raiseing my grandsons and for them we raise them christian and with noing about wicca untill they decide for them self what they want to do. They no I am a witch and they like it alot.

[Lady Motevia]

Habibidancer, I'm raising my daughter pretty much the same way. My husband isn't really much of anything, although lately he's been interested in learning about Shamanism. My daughter is only 10 months old right now, but when I was pregnant I made a vow to the Goddess to raise my daughter in Her name. Once my daughter is older, I will teach her about every religion I know- including Christianity. If at that point she chooses to remain a Pagan, that will be great. If not, then I'll show her where to look to find the answers she seeks. We just moved to our own place and I'm currently in the process of making it "Pagan-y". She's right there with us at every meeting and I'll always keep her involved in what I do.

[moonfyre]

My husband has been Wiccan for years or most of his life, though neither of us practice anything. I was raised Christian so it is hard to not go back to it from time to time. My kids are 8, 4, almost 2, and I am pregnant due around Samhain.
We don't get the 8yr old but every two weeks and we haven't raised the others toward Wicca either. We thought that our kids needed to live lives that were untainted by our/others religious views until they were a little older. Then help then find the path that is right for them. My own family has nothing to do with us because we have chosen Wicca so our kids are already being hurt by the prejudices of others beliefs. And even the Day Care my children go to practice Christianity, saying a prayer before eating meals. At least in the 3+ rooms.
It makes figuring out my own path harder, even though I want to learn and practice without thought. Another thing that is hard is my daughter is the 4yr old. She believes that if your a witch your evil. She gets this from all the princess movies she sees. I try to explain that is not the case but she is a hard minded girl with little proof of the good witch from shows.
I really thought about doing a Baptizium/Wiccaning that way they are prepared for either religious path and doubly blessed.

[lorifiya]

Well if shows with good witches there's the wizard of oz with glinda.

[habibidancer]

My son has gotten some of the "bad witch" messages too.
My response is to be matter-of-fact... I refer to myself frequently as a witch, I talk about how anyone can be good or bad, regardless of what they call themselves. Anyone can be "naughty". People choose to be good or naughty. Some of the kids movies have naughty villains who are not witches.

I figure if all he ever sees are "bad witches" he will never know there can be good ones. He knows me, he knows my other witch friends, he knows they aren't "bad" so eventually the stereotype will be overcome. 4 yr olds are very literal!

I have also had to limit my son's tv time to counteract the negative impact it's had on him. Much less time with it on and also limiting what he can watch.

[habibidancer]

I thought this an interesting read.

www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Hand-Me-Down-Paganism-Eric-Scott-07-11-2011.html

[windstrm99]

We are not raising my son in any religion what so ever. My husband and I decided before he was born to raise him without religion, but to answer all his questions and explain anything he was interested in so he could make his own choice when he is ready.