TheMadHouse: Spiritual Sunday - A pause in Lent week 5

Sunday, 21 March 2010

Spiritual Sunday - A pause in Lent week 5

Firstly an update on the shouting. We have had a few relapses, but it is actually getting easier. I have noticed a real difference, it is not my first reaction a situation.

Also the fact that I have been unwell has meant that the volume button has had to be turned down with the boys too. This is good news, no actually this is great. On the few occasions I have had to raise my voice the impact has been immediate and it feels good not to be all fishwife.

I have been discussing Jesus with the boys and they are both finding it hard to comprehend about the resurrection, so I have bi passed this for now and we have been discussing the fact that Jesus was aware that his death was near. This seems to sit fine with the boys, infact death is not a thing to be feared in their eyes. It is a natural progression in their eyes.

Part of it is down to their Grandpa being a farmer, so everything is black and white with no in between, part of it is down to their innocence and their trusting in what Mad Dad and I say, which is fine, but it does make it hard to sometimes deal with the bible.

So peeps, I need some help here, we need some help. How would you discuss Easter with a 3 and a 5 year old, they are both bright and love to learn. I would like some ideas on way to explain this to them.

MadDad is a very lapsed catholic and Easter doesn't hold any pleasure for him at all and that is not what I want for the boys, so friends I am all ears.

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mrs yappy dog · 784 weeks ago

My boys question our faith at times. They have trouble understanding the concept of the Trinity. Our church has a good Sunday school and a fantastic youth group, most of their education has been by the church and not me. Oldest boy recently had a weekend away with his group to discuss celibacy etc. for example and famil values. We have a holiday club every Summer where all the children bring friends and have activities and fun. We don't have baptism for children, we have dedication where we offer the child to be brought up as Christians and everyone in the church stands and promises to guide them - so it's like a church family. We have elders to go to with major worries and issues and the children have a church mentor to talk with. I think this structure is the foundation of their christian lives, it isn't about what I can teach them so much as practicing what we preach.

1 reply · active 783 weeks ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

Hmm I am somewhat of a reluctant church goer. There isnt one that fits our needs nearby. I think we live a pretty Christian life, but I do want them to understand a little bit

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Dad Who Writes · 784 weeks ago

I'm afraid I'd be firmly with MadDad. I was bought up a very strict Catholic in a family dominated by nuns, priests and the SVP. Christian Brothers secondary school, nuns at primary school...So I'd better keep my mouth shut.

The struggle with the shouting, though. Oh how I empathise! We all do it and we all hate ourselves afterwards. I think the only real solution is time - gradually, dudelet is getting more in control of himself and I'm gaining a little more control in return. Of course, we'll have to go through it all over again with little elf, no doubt...

1 reply · active 783 weeks ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

It is such a awful thing that you and MadDad feel the same and in no ay are you alone. Sometimes religion does lots of damage.

Shouting has been really hard, having the flu has really helpped me!

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mrs yappy dog · 784 weeks ago

p.s. just had a thought, have you tried the Vegetales videos? children love them - see if you can track them down - if you need any help let me know as we use them at HBC church.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

I will have a look for them - cheers

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Sandi · 784 weeks ago

I found a book about the Story of Easter at Sainsbury's. I had a mini version of it last year and this year found a larger one. They also had a sticker book, but I passed that one over as I was a bit freaked about the idea of a sticker of Jesus on the cross. Our local church is also doing a passion play around the village which I'd like to take them to.

1 reply · active 783 weeks ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

Oh I will take a look. I dont think I can do stickers either though.

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Kaye Swain · 784 weeks ago

Hi, I've really enjoyed reading your articles this past month!

Regarding your question about sharing the story of Easter with children, I just wrote about that today, and have other posts with ideas on this also. What has worked very well with my grandchildren are Resurrection Easter Eggs. Each egg has a tiny toy that tells a part of the story of Jesus Christ - from Palm Sunday through to the Resurrection. After several years my grandchildren (6 and 7) still love to search for them. Then we sit down and open one egg at a time and tell the story about each item. I wrote about them in my post today with links to another article, plus I found directions to make your own in two places. This one is the easiest and, other than the eggs, it's free - www dot rainbowcastle dot org / resurrectioneggs dot html - just replace the dot with a period and remove the spaces on either side of the forward slash. The other requires a purchase ($4 I think) for a download of 12 pictures that you use to make a wrapper for the egg or pop inside the egg - just send me an email (SandwichINK at SandwichINK dot com) or leave a comment on my site if you would like the link for that as well, and I'll dig it out. :)

One other article that might be of interest to you, where I shared 7 ideas for Good Friday for kids. :) - www dot SandwichINK dot com / 7-good-friday-activities-grandkids

As you can probably guess, this is a subject near and dear to my heart! :) :) :)
Have a blessed Sunday and week!

1 reply · active 783 weeks ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

Oh thank you very much, I am going to have a good old read this eveing when I have some more time. I am just so keen on the boys understanding and not feeling oblidged. Plus at this age they so want to learn

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angelsandurchinsblog · 784 weeks ago

We've found the whole Easter egg thing really helpful. Our oldest is four, but both he and the three-year-old understand the concept of new life coming from an egg, and are all too aware of its fragility having already seen some newly hatched ducklings get run over... Not so nice, the last bit, but they took it completely in their stride.

1 reply · active 783 weeks ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

Cool thanks for that, children do take dealth completly in their stridge - its us adults that have the fear

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Kelloggsville 103p · 784 weeks ago

Found this which is a shot Plam Sunday story http://clcoc.org/games/storyking.htm and Woodlands Junior school are always good for resources http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/teacher/e...

I would go to the library and get a good picture story book and go through that with them.

3 & 5 is very young to teach the Passion to, our church do a children's stations of the cross service which is very good.

oh and I recommend Ish http://www.ishmael.org.uk/home.php for great childrens music - the new CD Bigger Barn is out.

Good luck x

1 reply · active 783 weeks ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

Wow thanks for that. I am going to have a good read tonight. The boys dont go to a faith school and the local primary has been awaiting the new vicar to start, so this just hasnt been covered at all

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Dara · 784 weeks ago

It's a hard concept that whole "died to wash away our sins" idea. We tend to read those children's bible books and let the kids ask what questions they want. One thing I did last year, when they were 4 and 2 was teach them that story "How much do you love me, I asked the Lord. He spread his arms upon the cross and answered 'This much.'"

We've sort of shied away from the washing the sins away side of things and explained the more political side - how the Romans were afraid Jesus would cause mutiny and dissension and the Jewish leaders felt he was blasphemous and challenged their power. We've explained that Jesus allowed them to kill him because he knew the things he was teaching would survive beyond him.
We've also talked about the death-life cycle - how a seed appears dead and inert but comes to life with soil and water. How compost - dead vegetables - gives life to our gardens and how that same promise of life from death is what Jesus gives us.

1 reply · active 783 weeks ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

Thank Dara, I love the idea of a seed and we will be discussing that at the dinner table tonight. We seem to do most of out chatting during dinner!

They both have childrens bibles and we do read to them.

It is all about finding the right balance for me

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Penny · 783 weeks ago

Jess suffered terrible dreams after her infant Easter Church service where the dept head at the time went on about Crosses to bear etc. I spoke to the infant teacher about it - in class it was handled at the right level about Spring & growth edds for new birth etc.

As you know we are not religious but we celebrate Easter for a time of celebrating spring, the circle of life etc ...and Christmas for a time of giving.

Maybe talk to the bous' teachers to see how schol approaches Easter with very youndg children and work from there ?

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

I can understand that Penny would have bad dreams. MadDad was brought up catholic and it seems that a lot of the teachings were fire and brimstone and that is what I DONT want for the boys.

I feel that relision is great for basic morals and understanding and want to brake them in gently. The school have been eagarly awaiting the new vicar (we have been without one for 3 months) so this just hasnt been covered at all. Infact Maxi explained Shrove Tuesday and Fasting to his class!

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Swanbythelakeside · 783 weeks ago

Our Catholic school very much emphasised the Resurrection at that age (Reception) rather than the sufferings of the Cross itself. If anything the emphasis was on the Disciples missing Jesus and being so glad to have him back . All children can relate to that. I think it slowly sinks in over the years, I don't think you have to explain it forcefully at that age. At school they used the idea of the seed dying to grow into the beautiful plant and they used to act out little plays, or do craft work on that theme. The words they hear every Sunday slowly and surely make sense to them, it's almost as if they have never not known. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
I think as a child songs can often make things clearer, I remember singing There Is a Green Hill Far Away.
I know that I got bogged down the minute my child asked "But Why Did Jesus Have To Die" and very upset by that question. In a strange way my child is able to move on from this problem quite quickly, and matter-fof-factly trust/see the Resurrection follows, whereas as an adult I tend to go on feeling the pain of the Cross far longer, and not wanting to admit to it at all.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

The boys done go to a faith school, MadDad is a lapsed Catholic and didnt want them to have the same upbring as he had!

I love the idea of songs and will have a little think about that. Thank you

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Easter Bunny · 783 weeks ago

Oh i thought Easter was just about eggs, chocolate and chicks!

1 reply · active 783 weeks ago

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TheMadHouse 92p · 783 weeks ago

Well we do also make sure we eat chocolate until we are sick, plus we are off to an easter party, so it will be bonnets and all that for the boys too

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Swanbythelakeside · 783 weeks ago

TMH, I didn't go to a faith school nor did we go to church at all as kids. My dad was a thoroughly lapsed Catholic like your dh who hated his school experiences, but he did have us baptised. I think we missed out a lot, but on the other hand it has been easier to have no bad experiences of religion. My mum was completely agnostic and I have to say anti-Catholic. It has been such a blessing to tell children Bible stories, and see how naturally they take it in, as long as we let them reach out for the message. I suppose that has been my experience. I try never to say anything dogmatic, just tell the stories really.
We had a evangelical nanny when I was little who used to play us this CD called Kids Do you Love Jesus. We absolutely loved it and knew every word by heart, stories about Samuel, David, Jeremiah. I've been listening to it again. It is still available by Celebration Music.

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Swanbythelakeside · 783 weeks ago

Maybe it was Hey Kids Do You Love Jesus...

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Sunday, 21 March 2010

Spiritual Sunday - A pause in Lent week 5

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