To say grace when we have a friend round for tea?

[MerryMarigold]

Would you be offended if you are not a Christian and your kid was 'subjected' to a prayer before a meal? We usually do, and ds has a friend over today. I'm really torn.

I don't know whether to stick with what we always do, or not. I don't think God is going to be up in arms if we miss grace for once, but on the other hand, what am I teaching my kids about 'hiding' their religion for fear of being judged/ ridiculed by others. I don't want to upset the mother though.z

Would you be upset?

As an atheist, I wouldn't be offended. After all, you can do what you like in your own home! If you deliberately made my child feel bad about not joining in, then that would be an issue, but otherwise it's all fine and dandy.

Christian lurker alert... In my house we don't generally say grace I generally forget

But I concurr with all the very sensible advice given. Visitor respects custom, host does not make visitor join in. Seems totally logical to me.

No, I wouldn't mind as long as you explained to my DC what was happening. As the mum of the visiting child I would like a bit of a heads up that it was happening so I could explain to DC what it is / why and to sit quietly and respect your home.

I would be happy for people to do what they normally do. I am quite happy for my DCs to know that other families do things differently.

Another atheist who wouldn't mind, here. You'd probably get my children joining in, they go to a CofE primary school (because there are no primary schools in the area which are not CofE, in case you were wondering why).

I don't think a visiting child would bat en eyelid, it's adults that might find it uncomfortable.

I don't think a child would bat an eyelid - for all you know their grandparents are raving Christians and say it all the time.

Mind you, we once went to a dinner dance thing at our (catholic) school and all the adults tucked in... and then the head teacher got up to say grace for 5 minutes while we all looked embarrassed

Like everyone else, I wouldn't mind at all. Your house, your rules.

The only things that would annoy me from religious friends would be a) expecting my child to join in with a prayer or religious observance (rather than just sitting quietly) or
b) presenting a religious belief as fact.

Our family say Grace at each meal but if others come to eat then we say a silent Grace to ourselves so they do not feel uncomfortable.

After all that, the child didn't come (wasn't at school, not well)! But I shall be well prepped in future. Sarcalogos, we sometimes forget too, but we just say it when we remember. Between the 3 kids and me, someone usually remembers at some point! Pozzled, it's difficult not to present a religious belief as a fact if you believe it is a fact...if any questions do come up, I will try and remember to say, "I believe..."

Not upset as an atheist, unless the child was made to join in. Just as I wouldn't object if a religious person said grace or asked to use a quiet room to pray to Mecca.

Just don't expect me to gave any part in it.

Well I'm Christian, and would hate to hold hands!

We usually say Grace, but if the dcs have friends over and it's a kid-only meal then I would probably give it a miss. However, dd1 insists on getting the cube we have with different mealtime prayers on, rolling it, and praying with her hands together in front of anyone who would like to listen. I am so proud of her, but feel a bit sorry for the friends sitting with knife and fork in hand waiting for her to finish.

GeorgiaMay, if my dd wants to pray, it's actually under 2 seconds, so no-one has to wait long. Ds1 can get onto a roll though!

It's your religion, go about it as you please, as long as visitors can opt out with no repercussions.
Business as normal, I'd say. I wouldn't be offended.