Kiddos Say - God

I am an atheist.  That means that I don’t believe in God.

I do not know some of the mysteries of our existence but do not subscribe to the explanation that a ‘God’ created the things that I do not know.  I am NOT an anti-theist - I do NOT condemn or belittle those that DO believe in a higher power or existence of a supreme being.  I do NOT discriminate and DO follow science, physics, and biology.  These things fascinate and make sense to me.  And yes, I enjoy the writings of Dawkins and yes, dear Hitchens (RIP) - as vulgar as he may have been at times.

That being said, here is my conversation with the kiddos (kiddo initiated I might add).

MR:  God made the world, right Ms. Chelsea?

MA:  Yeah, he did!

SP:  furrowed brow

ME:  Yes.  For those that believe in God - he did!  For those that don’t believe in God, he did not.’

MR:  People who don’t believe in God are bad, right?

ME:  Not necessarily sweetie.  It’s not bad to not believe in God.  Some people do, some people don’t.  Some people say ‘I don’t know!’.  That’s all ok.  We are all different and believe different things.

MR:  But you believe in God, right Ms. Chelsea?

ME:  No, I don’t actually.  And that’s ok.  You do, and that’s ok too!

Then we talked a little about baptism and what that means in the church they attend.  He wanted to be baptized this morning and I promised to thaw him out afterward since it was so cold outside.  We had a good chuckle.

Mayer and Soren were listening intently.  I was really impressed with the questions and the willingness to talk about it.  Soren had his furrowed brow and Mayer’s were raised - I adore their ‘taking it all in’ facial expressions.

The conversation got a little hairier when I was asked where people came from.  I offered up the Christian belief - 'Man was created from the earth' and the Theory of Evolution - 'Man came from Apes, but it took a REALLY REALLY LONG time'.  I should’ve just rolled with the mommy and daddy explanation, but honestly - it wasn’t what they were looking for.  They know that.

I tried so hard to speak on their level and fairly for both sides.  One of my issues with some (not all, I am not stereotyping) organized religion is the discrimination that to think differently about God makes you ‘bad’.  But when you are 5, this could be a simple misunderstanding and I treat it as such.  I don’t think people that believe in God are ‘bad’ or ‘evil’, either.  I am not a fan of discrimination of ideas in general.

So this conversation was a bit of a double edged sword.  I’d hate for the kids to face discrimination for the way their mother/step-mother believes but I simply can’t and will not lie to them.  Ever.  But being informed about the differences in belief systems and having the knowledge to choose for one’s self is invaluable.  Knowledge is power.  Power of confidence and individuality.  That is what we all are - individuals.  And that should be celebrated.  NOT discriminated against.

authored by Chelsea Crutcher

Kiddos Say - 'Not In Real Life'

This is so good.  And shows SO much of the kid's personalities.

The twins went to the Museum Center and were telling Soren and I about the model train station of the city of Cincinnati.  I asked if they'd seen the incline.  I wasn't sure, but thought it was either Clifton's or Mt Adam's.  Mayer wasn't sure and Marley asked me what it was.  I explained it.  Marley proceeded with :

MR:  'That sounds neat.  But it didn't exist.'

Me:  'But it did.  Really it did.  That's how they were able to get home from downtown.  The hills were too big for horses or to walk.  They still use these in other states and countries!'

MR:  'I know.  But that never existed here.  Not in Cincinnati.  Not in real life.'

Me:  'But how would they have gotten their groceries home?'

MA:  'Right, bubs.  They'd be WAAAAAY to heavy to carry.  It is REAL!'

Me:  'A bike maybe?'

SP:  'Nah.  It'd still be too heavy.  The hill is TOO big!  It's real.  Really, real.  You'd get way too tired. '

MR:  'No.  It's not real.  Not in real life.  Not ever.'

This conversation lasted all the way to Findlay Market - a 15 minute drive.  The three of us ended up shrugging our shoulders after Marley said:

MR:  'I'm not talking to you guys (SP and MA) anymore, I'm having a conversation with myself.'

And proceeded to tell himself 'it didn't exist here in Cincinnati.  Not in real life'.  Marley's tenacity is incredible.  I admire it.  When he has his mind made up, there is no convincing him otherwise.  Even with stone cold evidence.  Like this picture:

The other two are just as strong willed in their own ways, obviously since the conversation lasted 15 minutes.  

This also reminds me of the Louis C.K. skit about his 3-year-old (which is hilarious, but warning, there is profanity).  He offers his daughter a 'Fig Newton'.  She says - 'They're not called Fig Newtons, they are called PIG Newtons!'  He responds with 'No honey.  They are called FIG newtons.'  She says 'No!  You don't know!  You don't know!  They are called Pig Newtons!'.  He responds with 'Oh really? I don't know?  I don't know? Dude, I'm not even using my memory right now.  I'm reading the box! It says it!!  Where are you getting your information on this one?!  You are three, I am 41!!'.    

His explanation though, how it didn't 'exist in real life', does remind me of this Key and Peele.  'He is short.  But you are actually short - in real life, in the world.'  Totally unrelated but hilarious.