Sunday, April 25, 2010

They Talk Too Much

Lately I've had a hard time getting Erin to wake up for school on Sundays.  I feel for her.  I really do.  The kid goes to school for her public education Monday through Friday.  Then she has to wake up on Sundays also for her formal religious instruction.  To make it even harder for her, we need to leave the house no later than 7:45 so that I can be early & set up my own classroom.  This wasn't a problem until the last few months. 

She actually started by telling David yesterday that she didn't want to go to Hebrew school today.  Whenever we ask her why, she answers "Because."  Shocking! I know.  And this morning was a humdinger let me tell you.  David came to help me out this morning because my frustration level was pretty high.  We got her dressed, fed & in my car ready to go.

Once we walk into the synagogue, Erin becomes a different child.  She owns the place, & she knows it.  I've been teaching there for the last 20 years so almost everyone there has been aware of her adoption.  Everyone stops to say hi to her, & she offers to help each person with setting up their classroom.  This morning she only wanted to follow me around.  No problem.  I love it.

On the way home from Hebrew school, Erin mentioned that she didn't like sitting with the girls because they talk so much.  I suggested she instead sit with the boys but she informed me that they talk too much also.  Having had most of this class last year, I know she's telling the truth.  I reminded Erin that when she goes to school during the week, she is also a chatterbox so I wanted to know what the big deal was.

Erin promptly tells me that she is in Hebrew school to learn about being Jewish.  (Makes a mother proud!) I told her that this news made me very happy & would also make her daddy extremely happy.  I told her that since she wasn't born Jewish & was converted when she came home, it made me feel good knowing that she loves learning about Judaism. 

She thought it over for a moment & then asked the question.  "Mama does that mean I was born a Christian?" 

Okay.  Interesting take on my comment & one I was totally unprepared for.  However, being the fast thinker that I tend to be I gave her an answer.   Which answer?  The honest one.

I don't really know Erin.  There are many people in China.  Some people are Jewish as in Kaifeng or Shanghai.  Some people are Christian.  Some people are Buddhist.  I did mention that there are also people who don't worship G-d at all because that is how they are raised.

It seemed to be enough for Erin today.

Me?  I wonder what question will be next & when she will ask it.  I do know one thing though.  I'll answer honestly.  Too bad "I don't know." will be the answer to many of her questions.

5 comments:

Sandra said...

As we have talked about many times, "I don't know" seems to be the only answer I am often able to give :-(

Sounds like you handled it well!

Vivian M said...

I hate that we do not have the answers...we know less than we would prefer. I think honesty is the best policy, because knowing our smart girls, if we gave them a fairy tale answer, they would eventually figure it out anyway.

Gretchen said...

Elise asked me a very similar question just a few weeks ago. We had watched the Anne Frank movie and she became very aware that not everyone practices the same religion we do. She wanted to know about the religious practices in China. "I don't know" was the best answer I could give to her questions.

On the other hand, it should provide for some "interesting" conversations the next time we get together with my VERY German inlaws (who grew up in Germany during the Holocaust but don't believe it really happened.)

Candy said...

I really enjoyed reading this post and love your answer. Yes, there will be many "I don't knows", but we'll all get through them. Can't wait for all the questions here. Those will just add to the 100+ questions I get every day.twe

M Hastings said...

Too bad sometimes, but it's also good for children to learn that sometimes there just isn't a neat answer for their questions, I think.