I'm conflicted about christmas every year...
Married with 2 kids, my children are only 5, they are expected and pushed into the Christian way of dealing with this time of year, the school take them to church without even letting the parents know, they learn Christian songs, they learn of the birth of Jesus, I fought against this while I was a child, I failed and was still forced into it, and the teachers made my life hell for it, I won't put them through it, I let it ride.
My husband has no religion what so ever, he detests everything to do with any religion, including christmas, if it weren't for the children, he'd have no part in it.
I follow pagan teachings and if it weren't for the children would actively teach and partake in the festivities and rituals of the pagan teachings.
I try to compromise, the children will do as the school wishes while they are at school, when they are home, I will teach them all I can about other faiths. Christmas at home is a more traditional pagan time, there will be food, friends and family, gift giving, but I prohibit anything that clearly states a connection to any faith.
When the children are older and can make their own choices about their faith, I will do what I can to incorporate whatever they choose into our lives, celebrating their special days, helping them learn more and so on. When they move out, I will celebrate things the way I believe they should be, and hubby will do the same.
Until they are old enough to make an informed choice though, I will do everything I can to give them the basic things that are expected by those around them, without compromising my belief that every child has the right to choose for themselves, and that as a mother, it is my responsibility to ensure that their opinions are their own, and that while they are too young to form them, they aren't being pushed out of things to the point of feeling pushed into them.
