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Original poster

In not really liking my mum singing Christian songs to my baby?

159 replies

theUrbanDryad · 11/05/2007 12:45

I probably am being unreasonable, but i hate the way my mum sings Christian songs to my baby. he's only 4 months, so unlikely to be indoctrinated anytime soon, but i have made it clear to her on a couple of occasions that we won't be bringing up ds in a Christian faith or in any religion at all.

the problem is that by her own admission, she is on a "mission" to convert people. which includes me, dh and ds. i grew up really resenting my strict Christian upbringing and i don't want ds to do the same, especially since neither me or dh are Christian. also, when i realised how much of a swizz the whole Christianity thing was (when i was about 16) it took me a long time to trust other things my mum said, as after all if she was wrong on this major thing, she could easliy be wrong in other things too. i want ds to trust his grandmother and not have his childhood troubled like mine was.

dh and i have already agreed that if he wants to find out about religion when he's older then we will be fine with that, but i would like him to do it on his own terms, and not have it rammed down his throat from birth, however lovingly.

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 13/05/2007 18:25

My FIL sings this one

I did ask him not to, last time, but he is bonkers and forgets

ruty · 13/05/2007 18:21

my dad [a priest] sings this one to ds

Oliver Cromwell lies buried and dead
Hey Ho buried and dead.
They grew an old apple tree over his head.
Hey ho over his head.
The apples were ripe and ready to fall
Hey ho ready to fall
There came an old woman to gather them all
Hey ho gather them all
Oliver rose and gave her a chop.
Hey ho gave her a chop
Which made the old woman go hippety hop
Hey ho hippety hop
the saddle and bridle they lie on the shelf
Hey ho lie on the shelf
If you want any more you can sing it yourself.
Hey ho sing it yourself.

He also sings it half cut in the pub on folk nights...[my dad not ds]

rowan1971 · 13/05/2007 17:23

We sing 'waiting for the great leap forwards' in the car...

pointydog · 13/05/2007 17:20

fluffy, come on. Even though it's not sung any more, you wouldn't be particularly enthusiastic as a scot to sing a song with that sort of original sentiment.

DaddyJ · 13/05/2007 14:03

Just got back from church and thought of this thread as I picked up a cracking tune to sing to dd! (not a Christian myself but enjoy the spiritual break from the rat race)

Of course, you are well within your rights to challenge your MIL but as someone already said, pick your fights.

This particular one you will win without lifting a finger:
I doubt any amount of Christian chanting to a baby will immunise him against the dominant ?religion? of our age ? capitalist consumerism ?
which your son will encounter everywhere he looks.

It has been said so many times before but as parents (let alone grandparents) we overestimate our influence, I think.

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 13/05/2007 13:50

katelyle - i sing "i'll give you one-oh, green grow the rushes-o, what is your one-o? one is one and all alone, and shall be ever more so"

do you sing billy bragg to them as well??

OP posts:
katelyle · 13/05/2007 12:40

I used to sing mine to sleep with the old classic "I'll sing you one-oh, Red fly the banners-oh,What is your one-oh? One is workers unity and ever more shall be so!" And so on. Dc's loved it, and we still sing it in the car sometimes!

The Internationale makes a good travelling song too!

edam · 13/05/2007 12:34

Forty, think that should read 'Santa'.

fortyplus · 13/05/2007 12:31

UrbanDryad - did you hear about the dyslexic devil worshipper who sold his soul to Satan?

fluffyanimal · 13/05/2007 09:30

Pointydog, I didn't know that verse. Just looked it up on Google. However, it is NEVER sung now, so I don't think you can really accuse what is sung now as being anti-Scottish.

madamez · 12/05/2007 11:55

It would irritate me as well even though there are some musically lovely superstitious songs. One of the M&T groups we go to keeps having spells of bible-bashing which I don't like: Ds is only 2 so is not going to be harmed by it, I just resent the assumption that it's all right to peddle this crap to kids as though it were factual.

kittypants · 12/05/2007 11:44

we are not religious but know are children may oneday choose to follow a religion and that as there are so many different cultures annd religions it would be helpful for them to have some understanding(i find it interesting too).so we teach them about different religions.i dont agree that our local cp school only teaches christianity ,my children are lucky to learn about other faiths at home,some dont.

TheBlonde · 12/05/2007 11:39

If it is upsetting you just tell her

My mother sings irish folk songs to mine - not sure why as we are not irish

Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 12/05/2007 11:35

fortyplus - i read that as songs about satan!!

i do find all Christmas music exceptionally irritating also. but oddly quite like O Come All Ye Faithful.

this music malarky isn't as black and white as it seems is it??

OP posts:
Original poster
theUrbanDryad · 12/05/2007 11:34

the first song ds ever heard was when he was abut 3 minutes old, and dh was singing "God Save The Queen" (the Sex Pistols version, natch ) because it was the only thing he could think of after a 3 day labour!!

you're all right - i don't think it's going to do any lasting "damage", but it is extremely irritating. but that's my problem, not my mum's or ds'.

oh, and ds actually really enjoys gangsta rap (he quite likes "Cop Killer", by IceT) and has always enjoyed hardcore techno/rave since i was pg with him. i think it is the beat he likes. actually, if you think about the theory behind Baby Mozart - that the very precise structure behind the music somehow has the capability to make your dc more intelligent - then you could say the same about house/techno music. maybe i should market baby Faithless?!

OP posts:
fortyplus · 12/05/2007 11:24

I don't believe in God, but didn't mind that my children did until they were old enough to make up their own minds.

Would you have a problem with your mum singing songs about Santa?

pointydog · 12/05/2007 11:23

"rebellious Scots to crush"

can't really argue with that

fluffyanimal · 12/05/2007 11:20

Sorry to go off at a tangent here, but in what way is the national anthem anti-Scottish?

Blandmum · 12/05/2007 10:05

I love singing hymns, myself. Hardley ever go to church, but can belt them out like a good one. Great fun.

All part of the shared commin experience. Rather like being able to quote bits of the bible an poetry.

And interesting that the (very) high church school that my two go to, have had Jewish children singing jewish Hymns (sorry if that is the wrong word for them). My two belt them out. I think it is nice. Oh and Hindu songs when I think about it.

edam · 12/05/2007 09:56

I want to say, oh, bless her, but that's an awful pun.

Don't really think singing to him will indoctrinate him although can see with your background how irritating that would be.

caterpiller · 12/05/2007 09:54

You're not being unreasonable. Of course at the moment he's too little to take anything in, but it's probably best not to let her start any of it. She should respect your wishes on this important subject.

ruty · 12/05/2007 09:49

plenty of people perhaps even as intelligent and educated as you would disagree with you DC. Though of course it is the church's fault that most people have completely the wrong idea about christianity. The idea of non christians 'going to hell' is a case in point.

kimi · 12/05/2007 08:15

You could try asking her to sing some gangster rap, all about drug deals and shooting and lets not forget the ho's.
After all you never know what a song like all things bright and beautiful might do to a child's mind do you.

donnie · 12/05/2007 08:10

I would recommend avoiding Baa Baa Blacksheep as well due to possible racist connotations.

DominiConnor · 12/05/2007 08:08

ISWYM, for a while DC's favourite song was "Me and my Monkey" by Robbie Williams , has swearing and references to drugs and whores.
He was 3, I couldn't see that it mattered.