Young children: Trying meat like Trying ci

[Guest guest]

I also was very disappointed in Johns responce. The mother is obviously in

distress about her situation and is trying very hard to do whats best for her

family. I really think we most respect others decisions even if they are

different from ours.

 

My son is only 21 months old, and has been a veggie from the start, but my

husband is not, and sometimes brings meat and dairy into the house. (like a

pizza or a sub sandwich) I don't always agree with his eating habits, but I

respect them because he is his own person who can make decisions on his own.

He also respects my eating habits, eats most the vegan food I cook, and he

respects my decision to raise our son vegan.

 

I often think about how I will deal with my son wanting to try meat and

dairy, because I'm sure it will eventually happen. I think it will depend on

how old he is, but eventually, when I feel he is old enough (maybe 8 or so?)

I think he should be allowed to try it and them take all that I have taught

him about why we don't eat animal products, and make his own decision. (I

will probably go over all the reasons with him, and have him do his own

research as well.) Hopefully he will choose to stay vegan, but if not, I

will allow him to eat meat and dairy outside of our home. I feel that I am

raising him with good values so that he can eventually become a person who is

happy and able to make the right decisions for himself. I fear that if I

restricted him completely and did't allow him some freedom in his own

decisions, that he would become resentful and it would backfire.

That's just my take on the issue. I hope it helps you. take care,

Alexa

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I have to say that I was really dissapointed by the response by John in Atlanta

to the mother (unlimitedsolutions2001). I thought it was clear that

the writer was asking for help and not asking to be so harshly addressed. This

is just the kind of response that has led me to leave other vegetarian list

groups. I hope to find in this group compassion to help other humans in their

stuggle to help the animals just as much as compassion for the animals

themselves.

 

To the mother who wrote,

 

" My eldest son (age 12) is a meat eater and I have tried to be respectful of

his choice--although I don't agree.  Tonight at dinner my little one looked at

his older brother and asked for a bite of his hotdog.  I explained that we had

vege dogs in the fridge and if he would like I would make him one. He started

crying and said that he wanted to " try " the meat.  This isn't the first time

that he has asked.  He leaned over and took a bite.  I have been crying ever

since and am at a terrible loss on how to handle this situation. "

 

It sounds like a tough situation you are in having an older child who is a meat

eater due to your having come to vegetarianism later. I am fortunate in that I

have been veggie for 8 years now and my children are 6 and 2 and my husband is

also veggie. Here at home there are no conflicting messages for them.

Occasionally my 6 year old says things like, " When I am a man I am going to eat

a cow " and I tell him that that will be his choice then but wouldn't we be sad

to hurt that animal. It is easy for me to say " just say no - don't let him have

it " but it isn't sitting on my dinner table as it is on yours. Perhaps it was a

good emotional experience for him and he won't want to do it again. Is it just

you who is a vegetarian, or is your husband as well? If your husband is, have

you talked about making the house grounds vegetarian? If you are a single

parent, have you thought of declaring the house a meat free zone?

 

Good luck and please feel free to write me if you want someone to bounce ideas

off of.

 

Carmen in Norway

CrenHov

 

>I am aghast that the mother allowed her 6 year old to " try " meat. I think

>this is in the same category as " trying " hunting; or " trying " cruelty.

>

>We vegetarians must be more firm in our decisions, especially parents. My

>daughter has never tried meat and has not showed any interest (beyond

>intellectual) in it. But if she did show a desire to try meat, I would

>handle it in the same way as if she wanted to " try " driving a car: she is

>too young to make that serious a decision. On the other hand, when she

>wanted to have her ears peirced at age 9, I was against that, but felt that

>the harm was neglegable and limited.

>

>Remember, also, if your decision to be vegetarian is based solely on health,

>and not on ethics, then if you allow your child(ren) to " try " certain things

>that ultimately will harm their health (i.e. meat) then you might as well

>give them a pack of cigarettes when they want to be like other kids at a

>certain age.

>

>John in Atlanta

>AtlantaGAIA

>

>

>

>unlimitedsolutions2001 wrote:

>

>> Help!! I have been a vegetarian for almost 8 years and my youngest

>> son who is almost 6 for his whole life.  We have had many discussions

>> about " why " we don't eat animals and when he was younger he used to

>> tell people " we don't eat animals, we hug them " .  He has been in

>> kindergarten this past year and I have taken in a " meat replacement "

>> portion of his lunch everyday.  My eldest son (age 12) is a meat

>> eater and I have tried to be respectful of his choice--although I

>> don't agree.  Tonight at dinner my little one looked at his older

>> brother and asked for a bite of his hotdog.  I explained that we had

>> vege dogs in the fridge and if he would like I would make him one.

>> He started crying and said that he wanted to " try " the meat.  This

>> isn't the first time that he has asked.  He leaned over and took a

>> bite.  I have been crying ever since and am at a terrible loss on how

>> to handle this situation.  I know that we need to talk, but I need

>> some words of wisdom to help me along this path.  I am against his

>> eating meat.  I tried bringing up that they killed animals to make

>> that hotdog.  But he cried and I cried and I felt that we needed to

>> talk about this after we got ahold of ourselves.  He told me later in

>> the evening that he was just curious.  Please help...it's  all so

>> easy when they are small but as they grow they make their own

>> choices.  I want him to make the right one.