Teaching

Yikes, it has been a while.

I have to pose a question to the universe, and I hope somehow an answer will find its way back to me.

How do you have convictions which you take as absolute and instill them in your children, without teaching your children to look down on other peoples convictions and lifestyles?

The situation is, we don't do things the way "everyone" else does it. We don't vaccinate. We use little medicines, and lots of naturals and homeopathics. We eat differently. Little processed food, very little "convenience" foods, lots of organics and naturals. Both my husband and I work very hard to read labels, stay up to date on nutrition and health news, keep the kids natural immune system up. We also teach the kids to do all these things. They know to look at labels, watch things, etc.

Here lies the problem....what to do (tell the kids) about people who DON'T do these things?

One school is to tell them that everyone has opinions and yadda yadda. Thing is, these aren't OPINIONS. They are facts. Healthy eating is a black and white issue. We are teaching them these things to help them later on in life. If we tell them it is just a matter of preference, then what will they take away from it? That it is fine to do whatever you want to your body, there are no consequences?

Another option is to tell them some people do things that are not so healthy for them, as their own choice. Here is where my kids are starting to look down on people that DON'T make healthy choices. Sure, they are kids and LOVE To get junk food, but intellectually, they knows. If they get sick, they often comment they ate some crappy food and that probably lowered their general health. People get offended.

But these are FACTS in my house. Recently someone compared it to teaching children about religion. That they need to learn there are different religions and be tolerant of all. Of course, but do I tell them the Muslims are correct? The Jews? How can we teach that there are several "truths". When the time comes, someone has to be wrong. The same with the way we are raising our kids. If I thought it didn't make a damn bit of difference, I would most definitely take the easier route. I would love to have a bunch of stuff in my pantry I could throw in my microwave and heat up for dinner. I would love to have frozen foods in my freezer to throw into my oven. How much money would we save if we bought the non-organic, veggies, the kraft mac and cheese, the lunchmeats....If it is all a matter of opinion and preference, trust me, I would prefer the easy way. If I thought my kids would die of mumps, I would get them vaccinated.

I research everything. Food, cooking, cleaning, health care. I know I have accurate information. I do what is best for my kids based on HOURS of research on all topics. Most people don't do this. These are not things we do purely because we "feel" like it.

So, universe, send me an answer. I don't want the things that I feel are so important to teach my kids to come in between relationships we all have with other people, but HOW?? How can everyone be right, and no one ever be wrong??