Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on the significance of Jesus. This might seem unexpected since I identify as Jewish. However, with my partner being Catholic, discussions about Jesus are becoming more prevalent in our household, especially as Christmas approaches. Suddenly, my 5-year-old, Lily, has begun asking deeper questions about God, Heaven, and her connection to it all. With the holiday season around the corner, inquiries about Jesus are inevitably next.
It’s clear that when it comes to matters of faith, she’s a bit puzzled. I realized just how muddled her understanding was during one particular chat:
Lily: “You know that person who saved the world? Umm… God?”
Mommy: “Yes?”
Lily: “So, why did Santa—I mean God—put Disney World in Florida? And why can’t Santa—I mean God—just make the whole world Florida?”
Where do I even begin? It’s evident we haven’t prioritized her religious education. To be honest, we’ve been avoiding the topic. Neither of us actively practices our faith, and we’ve pushed off these conversations for another time. Some subjects have been easier to explain, like Moses. We simply plopped Lily in front of Disney’s The Prince of Egypt, handed her some popcorn, and let the story unfold. She seemed mostly fine with it—except for the parts about slavery and other heavy themes, which I can’t blame her for finding confusing.
Jesus, however, presents a unique challenge. This will be the first instance where we must convey to her that Mommy and Daddy have different beliefs, and that there isn’t a clear right or wrong. I always intended to inform her about both religions and encourage her to form her own opinions. Logical for a teenager, perhaps, but expecting a 5-year-old to contemplate whether humanity has met the messiah seems unrealistic.
Currently, Lily is in a “Mommy phase,” which likely means she’ll lean toward my perspective for now—Old Testament wins, New Testament loses. Of course, when those teenage years hit, she might rebel by exploring Jewish themes or even claiming she doesn’t care for matzo ball soup. For now, however, we’ll introduce the concepts of God and Christianity slowly and simply. After all, Christmas can be likened to a birthday celebration, and what child doesn’t adore birthday parties? Especially when there are presents involved!
I hope that as we navigate the basics of Judeo-Christian beliefs, Lily won’t feel overwhelmed by our ambiguous answers. She’ll learn that some questions remain unanswered, just like how she understands that soda isn’t great for her, even though I might indulge in Diet Dr. Pepper. Although she’s thoughtful, she’s still just a five-year-old. Regardless of how well we explain Christmas’s meaning, it will primarily be seen as “Lily’s Gift Day” in her eyes.
As long as she doesn’t expect Jesus to turn the world into a massive, Florida-like theme park, I think we’ve done well, at least for now.
For further insights into interfaith parenting, check out this post on intracervicalinsemination.com/blog. And for those considering starting a family, Make a Mom offers valuable resources on home insemination kits. Additionally, the World Health Organization provides excellent information on pregnancy and related topics.
Summary
Navigating the complexities of explaining Christmas to my interfaith child, Lily, has been both enlightening and amusing. As we tackle her questions about God and Jesus, I hope to instill an understanding of both our beliefs while keeping it simple and relatable for her. Ultimately, it’s about making the experience joyful and meaningful.