Teens and Church

[Jamn50]

We attended church on a Sunday morning and my nearly 16 year old DD and nearly 14 year old DS have said some weeks they don’t want to go. DH and I have said it’s only one hour we’re asking for a week and we want them to still come till they are 18. Other people at church say there children have to go while they live at home regardless of age others say they never force there kids. I don’t want them to view church negatively as they do have a faith but find church dull sometimes. My other issue is my mum is quite controlling and she would give me a hard time if they didn’t go sometimes. I’m really unsure as to what is best here.

My DH is the son of a Vicar and he stopped going to church at 15. His parents were accepting of it but obviously sad.

My in laws are now retired but still heavily involved in church life and we let them take the DC to Xmas services with them when they were young. At about 12 years old DS told us he didn't believe in God and didn't want to go to church with Grandparents anymore. Grandparents again accepted it but I'm sure they were sad although they didn't make a fuss about it.

I would never force my dc to go and don't agree with making them attend when they can be left at home

I don’t want him to end up like me and feel like I have to please everyone regardless of how I feel.

then don’t repeat the cycle: be the brave one and break it. Don’t force him to go just to please your mum.

I’m not religious at all, but there were certain social rules that my mum forced me to follow when I was younger. the day I realised that I didn’t have to was quite liberating, when I realised that it wasn’t my job to keep her happy. I’m still learning, age 49, that I can choose not to toe the line and the world won’t end.

Poor kids. Let them stay at home. No-one should be forced to go to church.

I'd never put pressure on my children to go to church. I was sent to Sunday school and hated every minute of it. I Didn't have them christened as wanted them to make their own decision re religion.
Pissed off that my parents had me christened - apparently it was was the thing to do in the 70s and an excuse to have a buffet! I never wanted to be Christian, and I'm not.
My children (now grown) will chose what religion, if any, to follow.