Not This Again

My husband and I are not religious people. At all. We do not talk about God or Jesus or say prayers or anything in that vain. We’d never spoken to our children about it either. We do however have many friends who are religious. Jewish, Baptist, Protestant, Lutheran, Catholic. . . .I’m pretty sure we’ve got one of every faith and a few who are non believers like us.  You get the idea. To put a different spin on the old phrase, some of our best friends believe in God.  We do not discuss religion with any of them. We do respect their beliefs. It’s just never been an issue in all the years we’ve been friends with any and all of them. Their children, some of which go to religious schools, have never discussed religion with our children either.

Until (you knew it was coming, right?) we moved across the street from a family of Mormons a few years ago. Great people! Don’t get me wrong. Great neighbors, two daughters about the same ages as our two and we don’t really care what your religion is. Doesn’t effect us, right? Wrong. Mormons proselytize. I understand this is part of their belief system and I respect that. Truly, I do. But please, please, please don’t proselytize to my children! Who, when this began, were 2 and 3 years old.

Of course our girls became best friends with the girls across the street. They spent hours at each other’s homes. Which was great! They are great kids, great parents. Everything was great! Except when my children would come home talking about God and prayer, etc.

It’s not that we’re against that sort of thing. Well, now that’s not true. We are. For our family. It’s great if you are a religious person. But can’t you respect our beliefs the same way we respect yours? We had to have a few conversations with the parents about not praying or having bible study while our kids were there. To please send them home. We told our girls that we respect what their friends believe, but it is not what we believe. My oldest is very contrary and rebellious (yes at 3, 4, 5 and now 6. It’s some sort of birth defect) so of course would always tell us that she did believe what they believe and she’s a Mormon! Which caused us untold amounts of distress. Sorry, if I offend you, but it’s my blog and I want to be honest.

Listen, when they are older and can go to church or read about different religions and decide for themselves what they believe, we will support that. But I don’t appreciate someone else telling my children what is true and right in regards to religion. Or anything for that matter. They are our children. We’ll teach them.

So when we moved to Bainbridge we felt like Yay! We have left the Mormons and don’t have to deal with trying to explain all that stuff to our children who are really to young to understand any of it.  Fast forward to a couple weeks ago: Our oldest has a play date with a friend from school at the friend’s house. My husband and I go to pick her up and on the coffee table is a bible. Uh oh. And a 3 ring binder with a picture of Jesus and writing that reads, “Jesus is Lord” or some words to that effect. Then we find out they have 7 kids. Oh boy. Now listen, don’t get pissed at me. These parents are lovely people! The daughter is great! We like them!! The daughter is coming to our house to play. I hope this will be a long friendship for my girl. But I also hope there will be no evangelizing.

I try to casually ask my daughter if there was any talk of God or praying going on.  She gives me a very stern, “NO!” then she musters up all the exasperation a 6 year old can (which is a lot in case you don’t know), rolls her eyes and says disgustedly, “Not this again, Mom!” to which I laugh and respond “Exactly, girl! Not THIS again!”