Gentle parenting through vegetarianism
Some theories of gentle parenting are only compatible with vegetarianism. Parents are trying to teach their children that the world is happy and peaceful, in which case their view is probably not compatible with watching television either. They want to show their children a world without suffering, without sacrifice, but not without meat.
Farm kids know where meat comes from. For most of the rest of us, we let someone else, someone at the slaughterhouse, face the suffering and sacrifice that meat eating makes necessary.
Of course, it’s important to some parents to raise their children to be cheerful vegetarians. If not, here’s a challenge: help them to clean their own fish or process their own chicken. Then help them fit what they see into the view of the world you want them to have.
June 7th, 2007 at 6:22 am
Dear Micheal,
Your post on my blog got me curious as to what type of parenting you do practice. I see I’d have to read your blog further to understand.
We do live on a pretend farm, but all our animals (including 40 chickens) are pets. We are not willing to kill or have the animals killed. We eat meat currently eat meat from company who gently raise and process their meat and who do not give the animals hormones or antibiotics. My husband claims to be a devout carnivore.
Interestingly, our oldest son learned how to fish, clean and eat fish this summer with his grandpa. This child experimented with vegetarianism years ago, but he decided to eat meat again somewhere along the way. While not perfect, he’s a peaceful person.
June 7th, 2007 at 9:13 am
That’s a lot of pet chickens! So I guess your children know the virtues of hard work. My own experiences with fish and chicken processing were not exactly pleasant. They just got me thinking about what I was doing. Choosing your meat provider carefully seems to be a good step.
June 7th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
What an interesting idea!
My children are I are vegan (my husband is not, but he eats mostly vegan at home), and we practice gentle parenting.
However, we don’t teach our kiddos that the world is happy and peaceful, without pain and suffering. To do so would be to teach them to live outside of reality. We live in a fallen world. We are a Christian family and want our kiddos to know that true peace and comfort only come through Jesus, and He doesn’t remove all suffering and pain, but He helps us and is with us through our trials and struggles, and works out all things for our good and for His glory.
June 8th, 2007 at 9:36 am
I grew up in the city, my gather grew up on a farm, where his grandfather was butcher. they raised their own chicken and cattle and processed the meat as well.
He always taught us to appreciate the food we ate and made sure that when we were old enough to understand death that we also understood where our food came from. He made arrangements with a local butcher for us to come in, observe and get hands on with the processing of meat. It was eye opening and helped me to appreciate where the food on my plate comes from.
When I watch one of my children try to throw away food, I am reminded of the sacrifice the animal made and remind them that this animal gave its life for them.
It is possible to be a carnivore and be respectful of the food we eat.
June 8th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Though, denominationally speaking, I’m not an Kalahari Bushman, I like what the hunter in the movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy” said to the animal he was hunting. Something like, “I’m so sorry I have to do this. But I promise that my children and I will enjoy you and not waste you.”