"I Am Lost": Atheist Mother Sends Daughter to Catholic Kindergarten

We put our girl in a Catholic nursery because we wanted a quality education, but now she's asking us a lot of awkward questions," wrote one mother on Slate.com (13 December).

The public school system in the area is good, "but our daughter has a lot of anxiety and is someone who needs smaller classes and lots of individual attention". Secular private schools nearby are $35k (sic!).

"The Catholic Nusery is wonderful - small classes, caring teachers, diverse and very much about kindness".

But there is a problem: "We are not Catholic and lean more towards atheism, especially me." Nevertheless, the parents accepted that religious education would be part of their daughter's school.

"However, I greatly underestimated how much she would LOVE the Catholic teachings," writes the mother: "The stories they learn and the way they are taught are very appealing to a young child, and I know that even when she gets older, my daughter could be someone who is attracted to religion and spirituality in a way that I never was."

Lately, however, her daughter has been asking very pointed questions "about what I believe, and I'm not quite sure how to answer them," she writes.

"For example, the other day she asked if I believed in Jesus, if I believed that Adam and Eve were real, and on and on."

The mother tried to turn the question around ("What do you believe?"), but the girl insisted: "I want to know what you believe."

"The short answer is no, I don't believe in those things," the mother replied.

"But any version of my not believing gets her upset, and pointing out other faith traditions basically gets her to say, 'Yeah, those are interesting, but Jesus is real'".

The mother worries that "if I'm evasive, she'll feel misled when she's a bit older; but if I'm honest or even ambiguous, she gets very worried".

The girl is worried about the people she loves dying: "It's hard for me to think of a way to answer that doesn't make it worse. Is there a script? I'm lost!"

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Hound of Heavenlast year

These parents have been offered a serendipitous gift; it would be worth their time to explore it.

mccallanstevelast year

If the parents are open to the Truth, their child will lead them to it.

fowardlast year

Yes, Adam and Eva are real, evolution is fake. That lie is why many people do not believe in God. Jesus Christ is The Son of God

P. O'Blast year

Thank you for attacking evolution. That belief that "somehow" everything came from nothing has destroyed the faith of so many.

P. O'Blast year

A great grace is being given to this woman. If she does not convert, she will have eternity to rue her inaction.

Maggie212last year

Sadly this could be written by my estranged daughter. They also sent their children to a private Catholic school because public schools are not great where they live, yet they are atheists. I was blessed at that time to be a part of my grandson's lives, and I would answer all their questions about God and Jesus, and my grandson LOVED hearing about heaven. So much so that he would always say "I just can't wait to go to Heaven Grandma"....as he started to age, he asked me if EVERYONE goes to heaven and I said no. Only those who love God and are "good"....he was a smart little boy and he said "so where do the people who are not good go to?" I told him about hell. OMG, his parents went berserk when announced that. His father took me aside and yelled at me and said I was NEVER EVER to mention heaven and hell again. Shortly afterwards I was cut off completely from their lives over a family issue with a sibling they disagreed with which has been a form of hell on earth for me. I only pray that my grandsons will grow to be faithful Catholics despite the circumstances.

Everyday for Life Canadalast year

Maggie212, I think the parents are afraid of going to hell so they severed ties with you. Let God do the rest. You tried. God bless.

SonoftheChurchlast year

This is great! Sounds like somebody at that school is doing their job and taking the role of Catholic Educator seriously. I rejoice!

Everyday for Life Canadalast year

There is no script. Learn about what your daughter is being taught in good faith and truthfully see if you’re being called to believe. Your daughter could help save both of you? Where is dad?

Patti L Formanlast year

One answer is the truth. Jesus did exist. Even Jews and atheist historians agree on that. We do have his teachings. Whether we agree with them or not. Then you need to pray.
Ask God to show you he is real and if he does don’t write it off as a coincidence. Miracles occur all the time. To write them all off as something science can’t explain yet but given enough time it will, is to be close minded.
The search for truth is a good thing . You may come out on the other end as an atheist or a Buddhist or a Christian or a Zoroastrian.
But don’t let your search stop just at graduation. Don’t be an atheist just because it is easier, or your professors were. Universities are notorious for only choosing atheist teachers and not giving the other side a fair hearing.
Truth is a life long endeavor.

Missylast year

Truth is a lifelong endeavor, however Jesus says clearly in John 14:6 that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Part of being a parent is to evaluate the things and influences your child brings to you. In my opinion, God is tugging at your heart through one you love to consider Him. There is goodness in giving your child a context to live by, and also that this woman was honest with her daughter.