Thu Nov 23, 2017, 07:13 PM

I am a vegetarian .. My wife loves her meat and so does my 6 year

Old daughter.

I respect my wife's choice ... And that of my kid's. I don't want anyone to force beliefs on others. However my daughter has started to notice that I mostly eat plants.. And asks me about it ..

How can I explain beyond "I prefer eating plants" ...

.. We have never really had a debate about it .Deep inside I feel its moral issue ... That is what drives my choice....But I am too scared to come across as being judgemental...( I am not .. But when you discuss things like this ..you cannot stay in control of the conversation and might say something stupid)

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5 replies	Author	Time	Post
I am a vegetarian .. My wife loves her meat and so does my 6 year (Original post)	Le Gaucher	Nov 2017	OP
With children, match your answer to their questions. Keep it short and simple, and on topic.	Irish_Dem	Nov 2017	#1
If I were you, and of course I'm not...	CaliforniaPeggy	Nov 2017	#2
Just a thought but maybe	Phoenix61	Nov 2017	#3
My wife and two cats are meat eaters too	Cicada	Nov 2017	#4
By changing yourself you have changed the world	Angry Dragon	Nov 2017	#5

Response to Le Gaucher (Original post)

Thu Nov 23, 2017, 07:23 PM

Irish_Dem (35,459 posts)

1. With children, match your answer to their questions. Keep it short and simple, and on topic.

I think your answer was a good first step.

Later when she asks more questions, you can give her more information, matching her age level.
In a neutral, non judgmental way.

I think you will be fine.

I am mostly plant based, rarely eat meat, and no dairy.
When asked about it, I follow the above guidelines.

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Response to Le Gaucher (Original post)

Thu Nov 23, 2017, 07:24 PM

CaliforniaPeggy (144,952 posts)

2. If I were you, and of course I'm not...

State your beliefs as plainly and simply as you can......

And at the same time, realize that you don't have control of the conversation, and that's OK. Being stupid is OK too. If you stay kind with your daughter, then that's all right.

Best of luck!

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Response to Le Gaucher (Original post)

Thu Nov 23, 2017, 08:21 PM

Phoenix61 (15,405 posts)

3. Just a thought but maybe

talk to your wife about this and come up with an answer both of you are comfortable with. Young children can be very black and white and often feel the need to pick the "right" side.

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Response to Le Gaucher (Original post)

Thu Nov 23, 2017, 09:05 PM

Cicada (4,533 posts)

4. My wife and two cats are meat eaters too

I just figure the arc of history will tilt our way and don’t worry about them. If I had a child I would explain my conversion, that one day on my bed I looked into my dog sam’s eyes and realized he was like me, not different in any important way. And after that I didn’t want to eat animals anymore because I don’t think they are very different from me, not in any important way. I know I can’t change the world, but I can change me. And I am confident the world will tilt our way over time.

I am a vegetarian .. My wife loves her meat and so does my 6 year

1. With children, match your answer to their questions. Keep it short and simple, and on topic.

2. If I were you, and of course I'm not...

3. Just a thought but maybe

4. My wife and two cats are meat eaters too

5. By changing yourself you have changed the world