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Original poster

I think I have freaked DS out about easter

64 replies

sockmonkey · 30/03/2007 18:36

I told DS1 (aged 3.9) that it was his easter holidays starting next week. He asked what easter was, so I told him it was a time to remember Jesus, and that he died, but he came back to life again. (I told him christmas was when we remember he was born etc)We go to church every week, and they would be telling him about it anyway.

Now he is really scared. He says he doesn't want Jesus coming to his house. I have told him he wont be and that he is busy in heaven with the angels, but he is still upset. He says he doesn't want his egg and he doesn't want easter.

What have I done??!!

How can I calm him down about it? Any ideas?
TIA

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:40

No comment!

chancery · 30/03/2007 19:41

chicket shit

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:41

The Church has Easter on a different date every year because Christ was crucified just after the passover, so we have to keep up with the passover date - you wouldn't say that the Jews have pinched a pagan ritual would you?

Eggs and stuff aren't part of the Christian ritual and tbh, at the catholic churches they are not mentioned.

Aloha · 30/03/2007 19:43

Miserable gits! Chocolate IS the true meaning of Easter.

SaintGeorge · 30/03/2007 19:43

Err, I did read your posts carefully. I think you were a bit harsh in your reaction. I offered help as well with no mention of my own beliefs.

I thought I was very restrained in NOT mentioning the theft of our festivals

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:45

Oi Pagan! Gerrof our thread and go turn some random people in frogs or summat!

Anyway, you're just jealous cause we have possessions and the devil and stuff which is far cooler than anything you've got!

BizzyDint · 30/03/2007 19:48

at the catholic churches eggs are not mentioned?! our priest used to call all the kids up to the alter to collect their chocolate eggs on easter sunday.

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:48

Then he was a PAGAN and that is what I would have shouted at him!

BizzyDint · 30/03/2007 19:49

what about the christmas tree he had on the alter at christmas?

SaintGeorge · 30/03/2007 19:51

Oi, I did a link! A helpful one. Stop yelling at me.

Rhubarb · 30/03/2007 19:58

Yeah but was it a proddy link? Surely you know that only a true Christian is a catholic one?

Dizzy, send me the name and address of your "priest" and I'll report him to my dad, I mean err, the Pope! I'm not having Pagans inflitrate the Holy Church!

jangly · 30/03/2007 19:59

Saint George - the piece on your link practically starts with the words "Jesus hung on the cross, dying". Perhaps that's not really comforting for an already freaked out three year old.

Tbh I think three is too young to be told anything about the real Easter story.

BizzyDint · 30/03/2007 20:01

we were told eggs were ok, they were to represent the egg shaped rock infront of jesus' tomb. that's what my grandad told us anyway, he was the head teacher of our catholic primary school. my dad, on the other hand is a muslim, he told us easter is about spring time, so you eat eggs because it's to do with new life. either way, me and my sister weren't fussed, eggs is eggs.

SaintGeorge · 30/03/2007 20:02

You need to read the whole piece jangly. The damage, for want of a better word, is already done in sockmonkey's case. I thought the link put the whole story across well for kids to try and show the 'up' side.

Never mind, I will bugger off and stop trying to help.

Aloha · 30/03/2007 20:02

Ah, but they are both wrong!

I have absolutely no idea how you turn torture into suitable entertainment for three year olds! However, I suspect that with chocolate and time the wounds will heal.

FrannyandZooey · 30/03/2007 20:44

Chancery I did see the OP was a practising Christian

I haven't had much opportunity to discuss faith with a variety of Christians (some seem to be a bit prickly about it or perhaps it is just that I feel shy about it or worried about offending?) and I was certainly unaware that elements such as the resurrection were regarded as literal by many (any?) modern Christians. This hasn't been the case for the Christians I have discussed beliefs with.

I hope my suggestions were helpful although perhaps as a non-Christian I should not have tried to help.

FrannyandZooey · 30/03/2007 20:47

Chancery have just reread thread and realised you must be custy - custy you have the most distinctive style on MN after cod

colditz · 30/03/2007 20:53

see, I thought that but couldn't see any swears

Pruni · 30/03/2007 20:54

Message withdrawn

Pruni · 30/03/2007 20:55

Message withdrawn

FrannyandZooey · 30/03/2007 20:58

It is soooooooo custy and there were swears too

Is it your Easter name custy? You had me foxed. I had to reread because you said "I usually love you too" and I thought "I don't know who the jiggins you are"

Cazee · 30/03/2007 23:02

Hi sockmonkey,
I have been googling hard for you, but I can't find a nice version of the Easter story suitable for a 3 year old, bit of a gap in the market there. I suggest the main thing is, over time, to make sure that your little boy understands how lovely Jesus is, so that he wishes Jesus would come to him, rather that fears him. 3 is very young to understand about Easter, but as a Christian I feel that as soon as a child understands that people die it is important to tell them that Jesus destroyed death, and that they will live forever with Jesus. My DS, nearly 7, seems so excited by the prospect that death holds no fear at all for him, and he said, when I told him to hold my hand near the road, "I don't mind getting run over, I will be with Jesus!". I explained that he shouldn't be in a rush to get there!

Original poster
sockmonkey · 31/03/2007 08:34

Thank you for finding a link St George. I might keep that for when he is a bit older.
Cazee - I hope DS will get the idea like yours.

I am thinking maybe I should explain my beliefs, hoping not to offend anyone though, I love MN and don't want to be hounded out
As a christian, I belive in christ - it's there in the title!
At my church, we don't have crosses, as we believe that the fact that Jesus died is only part of the plan, the main point is the ressurection - he lives again, and that because of that, we can be saved.

I appreciate there are other beliefs out there, that is mine.

You have actually reminded me of something my Dad told me about chocolate eggs... they are empty, like the tomb because he wasn't there.

Thanks for all the view points. Hopefully DS will be slightly less traumatised by next easter

OP posts:
Original poster
sockmonkey · 31/03/2007 08:37

ooh sorry pruni - thanks for your comments too - just don't scare your LO like I did

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 31/03/2007 08:59

Sockmonkey I can totally appreciate why you tried to explain the resurrection to ds if it is such an important focus for your religion.

All I can say is that when I first explained death as a concept to ds he was very bothered by it for quite a long time (I would not have chosen to explain it, but our neighbour had died and some explanation had to be made). I think by dealing with his questions and fears over a period of time we were able to help him come to terms with it and now he is fairly matter of fact about death.

Could you explain to your son about our spirits going on after death (I assume that is your belief) and take the emphasis away from dead people actually coming back to life in a physical way? I imagine your son is scared because he is imagining ghosts or dead and wounded bodies - not a pleasant thought and not really surprising he is worried.

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