Explaining veg-issues to small children?

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the advice.

 

No, I wasn't raised vegetarian (southern WV, you gotta be kidding!). No one

there (except my Mom) can understand what I eat, because their typical diet

is a huge piece of meat with a spoon full or canned corn and peas on the

side and mashed potatoes -- night, after night, after night!!! And, when

you go to the grocery store in the very small town I'm from, it's easy to

see why they can't understand what life is like without meat. I think this

one example will put things in perspective -- they only have iceberg

lettuce!!!! We have to take food with us or stop at Kroger's in the " city "

before you get to my hometown (an hour away).

 

We see his father's parents (although not his father) every Sunday for

dinner. Jack's " granny " always makes veg stuff for us and it's not an issue

that we don't eat meat with them at all, but some Sunday's she also has meat

too. It's only when he sees them putting meat on their plates that he asks

why they eat meat and that's when it gets awkward about what to tell him. I

don't what to get in a lengthy discussion in front of them.

 

It hasn't come up in a little while, but it was a big topic last summer/fall

when he was just 2 (he'll be 3 in June). I had told him before (when we

were alone) that we don't eat meat because we like animals and don't want to

hurt them. He remembers everything (!); and at dinner one night when he saw

them eating meat he asked why they hurt animals!

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to say when he asks someone why

they eat meat or hurt animals? Something short and simple without getting

into values, etc. in front of the person? I don't really like the " it's

their choice " because I don't want him to think he has a choice. I'm aware

that he may make that choice when he's older, but I want it to be much,

much, much older.

 

Thanks,

Lori

 

______________________

 

Message: 4

Mon, 24 Mar 2003 19:24:32 -0500

PhilLand

RE: Explaining veg-issues to small children?

 

Lori, I have a question for you to start this. Were you raised vegetarian

or did you grow to become a vegetarian through your own experiences?

 

I think the answer to the issue of explaining to small children is basic.

Be honest, do not provide more information than your child is ready to hear

and do not deride or demean others for not being vegetarian.

 

Since your parents are apparently not vegetarian, I would assume that you

were not raised veggie. Share your own experience, explain that many people

become " socialized " by their upbringing into believing that certain things

are not wrong to do (like suicide bombing - pardon the editorial comment).

While many people grow to believe new and different things, most do not see

and feel their experiences fully enough to cause them to change their ways.

 

Your child should know that people who eat meat do so because they don't

perceive it as wrong, and while we think it's wrong, we don't make them feel

bad for not agreeing with us. Your child should also know that by setting a

good example of what he/she believes that maybe someday other will be helped

to understand too.