I would tell her the turth. That you find that song inappropriate. It would be a good opportunity to explain the different families have different values. You will always encounter it. It is frustrating.
It's stuff like this that alwaya made me want to take my kids and go build a cabin in Alaska, out where we'd never have to deal with the world. Just self-sufficient homesteading. I woudn't even have to tell my kids the outside world existed. LOL A little extreme, I know, but it's tempting sometimes. It has become virtually impossible to raise children purely now. No matter where you go, grocery checkout lines, piped music in stores, any interaction with less attentive parents... Your kids are going to hear it, see it, know it. The pull of the world is getting stronger as we come closer to the end. More kids are falling away. We just have to do our best, and put our faith in the Lord. My prayer is this. I know that my Lord knew me before He laid the foundations of the earth. He knew what I would ask Him for, even before anything existed. I know that what I pray now He heard, even while the earth was formless and void and all the particles that would eventually become me swirled around, formless and void. He heard me ask for the salvation of my children. He heard me. Beyond that, I lay all my worries at His feet and praise Him for His goodness, love, grace and mercy. We do our best. We have to rely on the Lord, and also be able to prepare our children to face whatever will come, with frank, biblical and honest discussion at appropriate times. Over the years, as I've discussed things with my kids, inside my heart I have such great sorrow that I must even explain such awful things to them, for their protection and for their ability to function in this place that is becoming more and more like Sodom and Gamorrah every day. But we have a great God! A mighty God who placed us here for such a time as this. It must be for a purpose. And won't it all be so wonderful when we have our innocence again!!! I long for it so much. The innocense of childhood. Some of us never even had that. But one day we all will.
Praise the LORD! That is a feast, Valerie! Thank you for wrapping words around what so many of us long for! That is a banquet for my soul!!!
Prarie, you sure have a way with words! And Valerie, she is absolutely right! Thanks for such a beautiful thought!
I feel the same way. However, I am encouraged to know that the closer the world gets to Sodom and Gamorrah, the closer we are to Jesus' return. I can't wait for Him to come back and claim the glory that is rightfully His.
Oh and Becky---I hate feeling as if I am bashing a parent also. I just simply explain where our house stands on issues and point out in scripture why. I explain that others may not be saved, convicted on this issue, interpret it differently, or are in a different place on their spiritual walk. We have to be accountable for ourselves and answer only to how we feel God has led us. I get so tired of saying "no". No, you can't listen to that or watch that or do that.... It gets so annoying. I can only imagine how my kids feel. lol. Actually, they seem to understand quite well. I have even seen them apply limitations to themselves based on our convictions. My dd tried to explain to a neighbor girl why she shouldn't cuss and that it doesn't honor God. My ds refused to watch a tv show simply because it looked like something he shouldn't watch. Sure, they aren't perfect but it is nice to see my and my dh's influence account for something. lol. Oh well, one day the Lord will come back for us and we will no longer have to witness the unpure---even in ourselves.
Yes, I've said that many times. There are plenty of things "other" kids can do that we can't. That doesn't mean that these activities or people are "bad", just that it's not God's choice for OUR family. My cousin loves to decorate her house whenever she can, including for Halloween. One year, she was babysitting three HS kids. They came in, eyes gigantic over the Halloween decorations that just popped up since their last visit. Finally, the oldest asked in her smallest voice, "Do you worship the devil?"
Oh..... LOL Poor little, sweet thing. I can only imagine what went on in her little mind. That just makes me laugh and want to wrap my arms around her, so tight.
Oh Jackie, that is so funny!!!! My son saw halloween decorations at my neighbor's house when we first moved in and he thought that same thing! lol.
I guess there is a time in our parenting when we all have to explain that all families do things differently.
Okay my opinion will probably be unpopular here but I will give it anyway. My dd's friends are not all Christians and yes when she goes to play at someone else's house she will hear music and things that she in't allowed to at home. I can't put her in a bubble. I want her to see how other people live and I let her know that what is okay for one family may not be okay for ours or vice versa. I exlain things to her and we talk. I am not going to refuse to let her be friends with someone because they don't have the same set of values that we do. And when one of her friends is in my home I take that opportunity to let those friends know what is and is not acceptable in my home and for our family. Every family is different and I am not going to tell my daughter that her friend's family is wrong for listening to certain types of music or watching certain types of video but I will tell her that our family does things differently. I never ever bash the other parent at all becasue when my child is in that persons home I want her to be respectful and not think "Oh well my mom says she shoudln't do this or that so I don't have to respect her anyway". I have a very open line of communication with my daughter and she knows that she can ask or tell me anything. For instance she knows perfectly well what type of movies she can and can not watch and has no problem telling her friends that. And if she asks me to do something or watch something that I don't approve of I don't just tell her "no". I explain why I said no. Kids are smart and should be told reasons not just sheltered from everything without an explanation. I also decorate my house for Halloween. And I am a Christian. We don't worship the devil by putting pumpkins and jack o lanterns in our yard and garland around our door and if someone who walks by my house thinks that we do then they seriously need to check themselves and their judgemental ways. It is sad to me that a little kid would see Halloween decorations on a house and actually think those people worship the devil without ever knowing the people inside the house. I don't shelter my kids from the ways others live. We talk about it. My family has fun on Halloween by dressing up and getting candy and decorating. I also listen to Christian Rock and Rap (no matter what the "beat" is). None of those things make me any less of a Christian and for those of you who may be reading this thinking "Oh my gosh how can she call herself a Christian?" to you I say that I can call myself a Christian because I have asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior, I love him dearly and worship him on a daily basis. Sorry if I have offended anyone here - I didn't mean to -but after reading some of these posts I myself felt offended. Why can't we live the lives we feel is best for our families without judging others because they may not be doing what you think they should or should not do? Sorry if I rambled - I just had a flood of feelings wash over me.
I put out pumpkins and scarecrows every year and last week Tanner made some really cute handprint bats that I hung on our back door. And YES, he is going trick or treating on Tuesday! I better make sure his Mr. Incredible costume doesn't look too evil looking.
I agree with you. It is always better to prepare you children for the world. Open communication is a must for us. I want my children to know why I choose the way I live. I want them to be strong in their convictions also to stand up and say no when I am not looking. I do not try to totally hide the world from my kids. I would rather have them find out about it when we can talk about it. (((hugs))) Moneky Mamma. I hope that I haven't said anything to offend you. If I have yell at me so I can apologize.
No Sarah I am not offended. I was just reading all of these posts and felt like I had to say something for those of us who feel differently. I in no way meant to offend anyone because I am a very strong believer in family and making the decision thats best for your faimly - it just may not be the same as mine and I think people need to be careful with what they say sometimes. I fully support everyone else here in the decisions they have made for their families. By the way we are going trick or treating too on Tuesday and looking forward to it! Its a fun day for us.
