Re: Raising kids in a different culture
well hmm maybe I can help…well my brother had to grow through something of that sort because he was initially confused about christmas and wanted us to live in a house with a chimney so santa can come lol …anyways my mother never really worried about such things like him getting confused between eid and christmas because for eid we all had get togethers with our families and dressed up and we all got eidees and gifts…make sure your kids get the feeling of eid celebration and as far as understanding the other culture , this happens through watching tv, having non-muslim friends who celebrate christmas and school
bottom line is that don’t worry about your kids getting confused because if you teach them they’ll learn and understand and without teaching they’ll be confused , know what I mean…sit and have talks with your kids about what eid is and how we’re muslim, that’s how my parents made my brother understand when he was little and gradually they do understand
as far as the holidays is concered just go out for dinner and stuff just to celebrate the time together, don’t necessarily have to celebrate christmas to prove something unless you want to which is your own choice
my brother mashallah is a teenager now and goes for eid prayer with shalwar kameez and everything…what also helps is sending your children to sunday school maybe and attending community eid gathering or something
it’s just exciting for children to experience other cultural traditions because I remember loving halloween and watching those christmas cartoons but I knew that eid was for us you know and how we get gifts and get together with family as well on eid just like people do with christmas…so its just a matter of showing your children the whole eid celebration
and maybe a trip to Pakistan may help if your children haven’t been there …hmm in a year or two eid may come over summer vacation and it’s possible to spend eid in Pakistan just to show your children maybe i dunno…personally i know i would’ve loved to go to pakistan to spend eid there with all my cousins, aunts and uncles because that’s what eid is spending time with your family and i still haven’t experienced eid in Pakistan 