A Bad Example
Today, I picked the kids up with a CD of Christmas music playing in the van. It was a lovely collection of carols, performed by a children's choir. From the second we pulled away from the curb, the kids were protesting.
"Mom! We don't want to listen to this!"
I was all set to get my Holiday Spirit on, and was having a great old time belting out the lyrics to O Come All Ye Faithful and Hark the Herald Angels. I turned up the music and started really getting into it with Go Tell It On The Mountain. My son was making protests in the backseat.
"Turn it off, Mom!"
"...Over the hills and everywhere!"
"Mom!"
"Go tell it on the mountain..."
"Mom!"
"That Jesus Christ is booooooooorn!"
I cocked an eyebrow at my son in the rear view mirror, and he sighed. He shook his head sadly.
"Mom, why you gotta listen to this filthy music?"
Um...
See, we're not religious, and I'm guilty of taking certain names in vain. A while back (and I think I blogged about this but I can't find the entry) I tried to explain to my kids that busting out with a big "Jesus Christ!" when you stub your toe is offensive to many people, and I have to work on that. My son internalized that, and has decided that any and all references to Jesus are inappropriate, I guess. This would apparently include worship songs and carols.
Remember when he professed his love for Jesus? I'm thinking I'm not doing a very good job of explaining all this.
Comments
That's funny. Jesus, he's the new f-word. You know, if Jesus ever existed, I think he'd totally think that was funny.
Posted by: FlippyO | December 9, 2006 12:38 AM
Don't worry. At my wedding ceremony, my nephew--who was six at the time--asked his mother, in a loud and echoing voice, who "the guy on the "T" was..."
He was pointing at the giant crucifix hanging in the front of the church.
That story is a family legend now.
Posted by: Lil' Bird | December 9, 2006 6:41 AM
See, now Drama Queen and I went round and round about why I wasn't going to let her buy a Black Eyed Peas cd. I can see I'm going to have to bar all Christmas music too.
Posted by: jenn2 | December 9, 2006 7:32 AM
Funny!
Similar comment to Lil Bird's above, but years ago my best friend (who just happens to be an ex-nun) was visiting her retired mom in Florida. She had her two kids with her and her young son Ben, then four, was being read a bedtime story by his very religious grandmother. As the story progresses, Ben suddenly sits bolt upright in bed and asks his grandmother in a very serious voice, "Grandma, who IS that guy up there?" He was pointing to a wooden crucifix hanging on the wall above his bed.
Posted by: Lin | December 9, 2006 3:19 PM
Sort of like us with the but/butt thing - but on a WAY more profound level. It's more difficult to never say "but" again - but to get in trouble for saying "Jesus Christ" in the good way would be disturbing too!
Posted by: holli | December 11, 2006 8:18 AM
heeheee!
Posted by: fin | December 13, 2006 12:12 PM