Sunday, 5 May 2013

Bear and Church

Bear has been unimpressed at the idea of going to church where he was Christened.  It is more than five minutes slow walk away.  I am getting seriously bothered about bear's reluctance to travel, in fact I am beginning to worry.  The Church I was hoping to make him a regular is a working church, energetic, lots for kids, great atmosphere, and, shamefully, would help him get into the CofE secondary school.  I do believe, I do read the Bible and pray but I feel that I am not quite enough of a Christian to look 'right' to get bear into a better school.  Regardless it is five years away and I am more worried about missing the music, the teaching and the new circle of friends.

Today I caved and we went to the Methodist chapel at the end of the street.  It is very much DF's stamping ground, he has a lot of friends there and is very involved.  I am worried I will make him look bad.  It is the sort of church where 'Sunday best' is required.  I don't have a problem with that, except my feet are still too swollen to wear shoes so I sort of stand out in trainers.

Bear was beautifully behaved, although at the moment that is always a bit of a challenge.  I seem to be once again drilling him with 'please' and 'thank you' but he did very well.  I went with him to Sunday School, and I will wait and see how things go.

It's odd.  There are some really lovely people there, and it will be comforting to me to have bear taught my belief system by others more knowledgeable, and DF is really happy there, but I can't help but feel really, really, really tepid about it.  I am sure that it is just me, and I know that the lovely people there will make bear very welcome.

(c) Betty Longbottom

2 comments:

ravylesley said...

Sybs as a Catholic and mother of five I am a firm believer in religion.All my Children have been educated in Catholic Schools.They have all been dragged screaming and kicking to Mass and made to endure the Sacramental Programme leading upto Confirmation and first Communion.I am not a deeply religious person but I am a strong believer in knowing where you come from and children benefit from a sense of belonging.So in this household LB would be made to go to Church and if it is the one he doesnt want to attend because he cant be bothered to walk so far its tough sometimes as Parents we have to make unpopular choices,Children dont want another friend they want a strong Parent who loves them enough to stand up to them and make them do at those times when fickle parents give way for the sake of an easy life.So Sybs stand firm LB needs a faith even if he doesnt realize it at the moment

Lesleyxx

Janet said...

Sybs, knowing the daily struggle you have with Bear, I say stick with what you can do. Win the war,recognising that you lose some battles along the way. And I speak as a Catholic mother, my children did all of the above that Lesley's children did. But when they were old enough to make their own minds up about their religion, that is when I stepped back and allowed (sounds like I'm a control freak!) them to do. Hopefully, by the time you are able to do that, Bear will have enough guidance to get him through his needs in life.