keyser_soze

And I missed that she also attends a bible preschool during the school year 3 days a week, 4 hours a day. As you can see, she is literally IMMERSED in fundyism.

HelenM

Fair enough. Just make sure you can cope with the lack of sleep so it's not crabby father/daughter day (I expect you're already taking that into account, though)

I figured as much...has that met with much resistance from your Mom and wife? After all, it will be hard if they (I hope not, but...) don't support it and undermine it in any way, for example, by expressing regret to your daughter that she can't go to church with them any more.

I'm glad she was receptive to what you said and understood your concerns. I guess that answers my question about resistance from your wife.

You're welcome and I understand if atheist input is the most valuable to you since that's your own perspective.

What will happen when she moves on from preschool? Have you and your wife discussed that yet? (I saw the mention of 'homeschool' in your opening post on here so feel free to link to another thread if you've already discussed that topic on IIDB)

Helen

keyser_soze

keyser_soze

As an aside, she rode her bike around the block a couple times this morning, I made it a point to go with her. We collected plants and rocks for her microscope along the way and put them in her bike basket, and we looked at them extensively when we got home. She also learned to STOP, LOOK both ways, and SIGNAL at intersections. It was really cool. She came home and showed her mom her left and right turn arm signals for turns. We also worked on the concept of shadows based on light sources, and some stuff with plants. Then we played on the swingset and the slide. Overall a fun morning.

Of course now she is in time out because she had a tantrum when she found out she couldn't go with her mom to a VBC meeting.

keyser_soze

Helen, I think you may have a skewed view of us atheists. Do you think Peter Kerby, or CX or the other scholars are bad? We all have some connection to biblical scholarship, it is part of our lives. True, we do not believe the same way as you, but it does not mean we are cruel, or ignore sage advice just because it comes from a christian. Would you agree that there is a difference of quality between your posts and say those of magus? Do you think we cannot qualify that difference? You think because my online personality, and indeed my actual life is geared towards skepticism that I am heartless? I volunteered to work, editing, on a book on biblical criticism, as seen from the CHRISTIAN side. My own book tries to give a rather level view of christianity throughout history, and none of the vitriol that you would assume from knowing me is included. True, it is years away from completion, but it will be equal minded I hope. We aren't really the blight that christians assume. Again, we're just people...just a little more skeptical

HelenM

I know...what made you think I think atheists are bad or heartless?

I didn't really say that anywhere, did I?

I suppose you know I'm married to an atheist, so even before I joined here I had quite a bit of opportunity to observe one close up...

Helen

p.s. edited to add: having read your post about your morning, now I think you're a cruel tyrant-Dad. Of course it's completely different when I don't let my kids do what they want to do (read or play computer games all day) and make them do stuff they don't want to do like music practice, homework and tidying up their room instead

keyser_soze

An absolutely cruel monarch you are! But seriously, sometimes maddie can be the pissiest little bitch. I think it comes from an over abundance of intelligence and hormones. My wife could hardly be called ultra-femme, but with absolutely no role models, maddie is probably up to age 30 in the clothes, style, and attitude. And with that attitude comes a peronality that can be charming, but coming from a 4 year old is just kind of scary.

lunachick

To start with; Maddie is the coolest name.

Secondly; she goes to bible classes 3 times a week for 4 hours each time?? Fuck me! That's a bit excessive, don't you think? What is her mother's reasoning for such total immersion? What kind of alternatives would she consider engaging Maddie in? eg; a sport, the library, the great outdoors - or maybe a kindergarten that's really a place of early learning, over and above early childhood behaviour modification through the employment of cult brainwashing techniques. Jesus Christ, keyser_soze!! I find that amount of hours devoted to bible learning and activities for a child to be...well...to be not good!

Wow!!!

keyser_soze

It's a preschool, but a faith based one. Her mother does not see the level of immersion...in fact when I first brought it up she thought maddie only had church time on sunday morning. Then I asked her what stories maddie learned one day after school. "jonah" she said. After church, I asked her what stories or songs she learned. To my glee, she said "god is good", then followed by "jesus want's us to support the church". Then after my moms house, I asked what they had talked about. "jesus protects us". My wife got a look on her face that she understood the lesson that I had been delivering to her for a week. And she gave me no trouble about taking maddie out of sunday school.

As to the name...It was my wife's pick. I wanted to use Madeline...I got the middle name though. Madison Elise and I picked all of my second daughters name(for my wife picking the a name that not only became the name of the county we moved to, but a city's name in that county as well). So I picked Katherine Elizabeth....

lunachick

Would she consider placing Maddie in a Montessori pre-school?

My own daughter went, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

http://www.montessori.org/

http://www.montessori.edu/

American Montessori Society

Association Montessori Internationale

Information center for Montessori administrators, teachers, parents and students. Links to schools, etc