Am I a bad mom because I don't teach my kids Bible songs??

[lillypie82]

I have a 2 year old daughter (she'll be 3 in October). We haven't really gone to church since before she was born, but when we visit my mom we go to my old fundy church and she LOVED "Sunday School" (mostly because they had cool toys and other kids to play with).

EVERY time I tell my mom anything that my daughter has learned, done, said, etc. she starts in with "Well, you need to be teaching her Bible songs" or "Maybe you should be reading her Bible stories instead"... she is always trying to sing her Jesus Loves Me over the phone and sending her Sunday school papers from the Joyful Life curriculum they use at her church... and it really makes me feel like crap!!

I don't claim to be a "good" mom...I let her watch too much PBS kids, and I don't "teach" her like I want to... but I'd rather be teaching her about art and music and science, and solving problems and social skills, rather than teaching her to parrot "Jesus Loves Me". I guess I just don't understand how singing The B-I-B-L-E is supposed to improve her life in the long run. Is your repertoire of Bible songs at age 3 supposed to somehow predict your level of spirituality later on??

I guess I just need some reassurance that I'm (hopefully) not the only Christian parent who doesn't care if their toddler can repeat a Bible verse or sing a Bible song. I think part of the problem is that I'm still trying to figure out what I believe and why, so I'm kind of in a weird "disillusioned with religion" place right now so I don't know WHAT to teach her anyways... But I think even if/when I have that figured out, I think I'd be more proud of her for, say, helping somebody on the playground rather than singing a song about the Good Samaritan.

Does that make me a terrible parent??

[Darrell]

All the Bible songs my daughter has learned have been at her Pre-K.

From me she has learned to sing the One-Eye One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater song.

[lillypie82]

(06-29-2012 09:14 AM)Darrell Wrote:  All the Bible songs my daughter has learned have been at her Pre-K.

From me she has learned to sing the One-Eye One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater song.

LMAO that's awesome...

[pastor's wife]

A lot of the Sunday School songs I learned aren't particularly well-written nor do they convey deep theological truth (i.e., "Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain"). Instead of the traditional choruses (read: "the songs I learned as a kid"), I prefer my kids learn Bible verses set to music. That way they are learning God's Word but in a painless way.

This CD is old now, but I enjoyed it a lot at the time: http://www.amazon.com/Hide-Em-Your-Heart...r+heart+cd

I also love using the music from Group's VBS programs. For example, last year's program, Pandamanium, had fun songs like "He's wild, He's wild, God is wild about us!" which is fun, loud, and simple, but also declares in a vivid and memorable way that God loves us so very much! Another year there was a great one based on Joshua 1:9: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoG0DahAbDY

I totally agree with you that it is more important for me that my children LIVE the Golden Rule than just TALK about it. And sadly just because people can SING Bible songs or recite Bible verses does not mean that their hearts are like Jesus or that their lives reflect His teachings.

I don't push my kids to memorize lots of Bible verses. They don't know all the books of the Bible in order either. But music is something we all enjoy and I like finding songs that are fun but also teach Biblical truth. (Of course, my parents would discount any Bible verses my kids are learning this way because the music has DRUMS and rhythm and is loud, but that's another story!)

[Sharon]

It sounds to me like your mother is trying to be in charge of you, as if she doesn't see you as an adult making decisions for your child. It's perfectly fine to not sing "Bible songs." I didn't teach them to my children either, mostly because I think they're of no more value than the Oscar Meyer hotdog song I learned from the TV.

(My 4 year old went to VBS last summer & I got the CD of the VBS songs. We listen to it in the car. It's too rock-n-roll for my mother, but we like it.)

[Tiarali]

I think it's important for me to teach my children to love and trust God. There are many ways to do that. Singing children's bible songs is a very shallow attempt which, on its own, is completely insufficient.

I don't know what I believe any more about a lot of things. But I know that God is real, that he loves me, and that he's carrying me through these times. From what I've read in the bible, I believe he honestly cares about what I'm going through. Which is far more than I can say for the IFB's that I knew!

We talk about God sometimes. Informally. I suggest my kids pray if they're worried about something or whatever. I sometimes let them know that I prayed about something - especially if the prayer's been answered, but even just to show that when I'm worried I pray and God likes to hear me and know my concerns.

Most "heavy" christians would tell me I'm doing it all wrong. But my ten year old daughter has a lot of problems in her life and she's still open to a relationship with God. My three year old son sometimes asks me if God's in the car with us I think things are going ok.

After all, God loves my kids too

If your mother wants to sing bible songs with your kid, then I guess if you're not against the songs themselves that's ok. Why not let her? But she's being foolish to put such an emphasis on such a tacky thing. Don't let her make you feel like a substandard mother.

[notdrinkingthekoolaid]

My boys (10.5 and almost 5) listen to a Sunday school song CD every night when they are falling asleep. I'm not super mom because they do that...it's just become their routine which they thrive on.

I don't think any of my kids can quote a Bible verse and my youngest is as likely to sing "Moves like Jagger" as he is "Jesus Loves Me". But they are all growing spiritually in ways that don't include information being forced upon them. Just because a child can regurgitate something from memory doesn't mean it has taken root in their heart.

Otherwise...we like the Veggie Tales CDs a lot. Some of the music is silly kid stuff but they have a few that are Sunday school and worship type songs. I think they strike a good balance.

[laurat99]

As the parent, you are entitled to make the choice of the type of music you expose your toddler to. Your mother is also entitled to her opinion as a human and as grandma.

From your post here, it sounds like you still believe, but aren't active in a local church. Kids enjoy being with other kids and music is a great way to get a message/theme/idea across. Don't sweat it that she doesn't know the songs; I live by the statement, "More is caught than taught." Be a mom she can be proud of.

[lillypie82]

Thanks for all the responses!!

PW, I totally agree that children's songs are not always very well written... I have seen that "Hide Em in your Heart" CD recommended elsewhere too - definitely bookmarking it.

Sharon, I love this "I think they're of no more value than the Oscar Meyer hotdog song I learned from the TV." When you think about it, it's so true! There are some seriously inane lyrics in some of those beloved "Bible songs".

Tiarali, You are right - "Singing children's bible songs is a very shallow attempt which, on its own, is completely insufficient." I don't have anything against Bible songs, but I just don't feel like it's the #1 most important thing I need to be teaching my 2 year old.

notdrinkingthekoolaid, THIS: "Just because a child can regurgitate something from memory doesn't mean it has taken root in their heart." SO true.

Like I said I don't have anything against Bible songs, but I am JUST as proud of my daughter when she remembers the lyrics to "Hey Diddle Diddle" as when she sings "Jesus Loves Me". But when I call my mom to say "Guess what L did today? She sang Hey Diddle Diddle all by herself", she NEVER says "Wow, that's great!" It's always "Well, I wish she would sing Jesus Loves Me instead" That's just the way my mom is though, and she does think she should be in control of everyone's life. Whenever we visit her (we live 18 hours away right now, but me and my daughter go visit for a couple weeks at a time, a couple times a year) I can tell she is trying to "fix" my daughter by disciplining her differently than I do and trying to pound Bible verses, stories, and songs into her head. I know she does it out of love, but it's really a crappy feeling to know that she is so unhappy with the way I choose to raise my kids.

[boymom]

Yes, you are a bad mom; keep it up.




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