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TryingMyBest
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| Posted: Dec 10 2012 at 9:48am | IP Logged
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Hi everyone, like so many other Catholics who grew up in the 70's and 80's I learned just about nothing about the faith. The saints were never discussed. I remember getting a Rosary for my First Communion and having no idea what it was. When I began learning about Catholicism as an adult I was really angry that we'd been cheated out of our heritage (sorry if this is controversial - I don't mean to offend).
I want my daughter to grow up with a traditional Catholic worldview. I want her to see the angels and saints as real and active in our lives.
But can it be too much and then the kid rebels against it? How do find the right balance?
Jennifer
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Dec 10 2012 at 11:26am | IP Logged
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Don't worry about it being too much. A child that wants to rebel will find something. Just live your CAtholicism and share it with your kids.. even if they rebel when they're older from learning it, they'll walk away knowing the truth, and often it's just about needing to find it for themselves. There are definately opportunities as they grow to give them space and to make it their own. We have non-negotibles that aren't faith based.. in our family we do ________. And when they grow up and move out they are free to change that.. so we make sure we are clear whether it's an unchangable truth from the Church or if it's a family preference.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Dec 10 2012 at 11:32am | IP Logged
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My dc generally like all the saints stories and learning about our faith.
However, I do use the CHC grammar and handwriting books, and that puts the religion factor over the top for my ds. I love the fact that these books are so steeped in our faith. However I do see his point at times. It doesn't bother my dd at all
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Dec 10 2012 at 2:46pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
My dc generally like all the saints stories and learning about our faith.
However, I do use the CHC grammar and handwriting books, and that puts the religion factor over the top for my ds. I love the fact that these books are so steeped in our faith. However I do see his point at times. It doesn't bother my dd at all
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Yes, I'm not sure you can overdo genuinely living your faith. I think that feeling the need to make everything "Catholic" in a superficial way could push the envelope for some children.
I don't think it is something to fret about, but neither should you feel pressured to make things more Catholic than you are comfortable. You can experiment to find the right balance for your family in a way that feels natural and not forced.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: Dec 10 2012 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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One good thing about being raised in the 70s-80s was that Christianity (if not outright Catholicism) was a lot more prevalent in mainstream society. Our town had a manger scene in the center, and the "Christmas Concert" at the public school featured religious carols as well as secular.
FFW to now, and you can offend people by wishing them Merry Christmas. I believe in freedom of religion, and can't fight the tide of secularization in society. However, I feel obligated to make my house much more Catholic-oriented than my parents did. Hopefully there are enough positive, child-friendly rituals, customs, and role-models to make our faith attractive to our youth. I am blessed that we have an active HS group. I think doing things with them makes learning about saints & angels etc. more normal to my DSs.
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
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stefoodie
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I think what most people talk about when they say "overdoing Catholicism", at least in my experience butting heads with atheists and agnostics online -- is that the Catholicism they experienced was superficial: Sunday Masses, for the most part, but beyond that, their parents weren't great examples. Some came from broken families were the parents were regular Communicants, did social outreach, etc. but basically let go of what's going on at home, didn't communicate well with their children, took for granted that authentic Catholicism was something they could just pick up from living within the culture (esp. in the Philippines where it's 80-90% Catholic). In other words, they didn't see many great examples of "practice what you preach", they didn't see people, oftentimes their own parents LIVING THE FAITH. If our kids see that we not only go to Mass, read our Bibles, pray the Rosary, etc., but we also actually try to live authentic Christian, Catholic lives, i.e., we are kind to them, know to apologize when we're wrong, put a real emphasis on relationships inside the home, etc. then they know it's not just for show. It's the disconnect between what people say and do in public, and what's said/done in private, that I think turns many people away. When they see authenticity and sincerity and consistency, we don't have to do or say anything else to convince them, our very lives prove it. When there's a huge gap between our public faith and our private lives, that's when our children start questioning whether faith, or even God, is real.
(Sorry for the long-winded answer.  )
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stef
mom to five
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Dec 12 2012 at 1:28pm | IP Logged
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How old is the child in question, Jennifer?
I second all that is said above and will add, if the child is pre teen or teen, then yes, too much too fast can feel very disrespectful a teen's desire to be genuine. Most teens, however rebellious, are really trying to be "real". They are trying to figure out who they are and how they fit into the world. Having a bunch of "extra" thrown at them, and not given a chance to absorb it, is hard.
If I'm close then consider going with the child's strength. Is he artistic? Then go an art and music route. Is she logical? Go with apologetics. That sort of thing. And start with what the Church requires, slowly building from there. For example, Sunday Mass is required. Teen groups aren't. Confession is required. Service projects aren't. Daily prayer is required. Studying Latin isn't. That kind of thing. Teens really need to feel respected in their ability to make good choices for themselves. Growing in faith is a personal matter, one that you can do with and next to each other 
We parents of older children so want our children to be close to God and His Church, which is wonderful. It is quite a dance to figure out when to guide and when to stand back and support.
I hope all the best for you!
Love,
ETA: I'm on a new computer and just realized this is in the Wonder Years which means your child is mostly likely young! So disregard the above, lol, and go ahead and just find ways to enjoy living the faith together 
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Overdoing Catholicism?
