Coworker asked if I plan to raise my son as a vegetarian.
I have no idea why she responded the way she did, this was interesting.
I was talking to a couple of coworkers, and out of the blue one of them asked, "do plan to raise your son as a vegetarian?"
I was confused by the question and just responded, "yeah, I suppose so." And she just gave this shocked look like it was the craziest thing she ever heard.
Later I was thinking, why wouldn't I raise my son a vegetarian? I mean, I am not going to force him to be vegetarian or anything, but I cook vegetarian, that is the way I cook, that is the food I eat, if he is going to eat "mom's cooking" he is going to eat vegetarian cooking. When he is older, and what he decides to eat when he is not home is his choice. Is she thinking that I am going to change my style of cooking just because I am having a baby? That is like a Mexican who has always cooked mexican to suddenly decide to start cooking italian just because they are having a baby. Rediculous.
Goofy.
;D I love people's expressions when they can't fathom something. I'm sure mine are amusing, too. What you said makes perfect sense though. Oh! A baby! Let me just run down the street and kill that cow over there real quick so my kid can have something to eat.
My husband and I are trying to have a baby and that's the most common question all of our friends/family ask! I guess it's controversial for us since he's an omni and I'm vegan. Most people tell me that it's ok for me since I'm choosing to eat this way, but that I would be starving a child by "forcing" him/her to eat vegan. Not to mention the comments about how it's not a proper diet for a growing child.
I would've given her the most sarcastic answer in the history of Earth.
I would've given her the most sarcastic answer in the history of Earth.
C'mon now...don't tease us. What is it? Other prego-veg*n mommies-to-be could probably use it.
I can't imagine how annoying the vegetarian questions must be when you have children. I love when people ask me if my boyfriend is a vegetarian. They seem to take great satisfaction in the fact that he's not. Maybe you should just tell people you plan to breastfeed for 18 years. That might stop the inquisition. ;)
People are just waiting to find flaw with your veg*nism. We all know that it's perfectly healthy--healthier, if done properly--to raise your children veg*n. The American Dietetic Association has a statement saying that vegetarian and vegan diets are appropriate for ALL stages of life. People are just ignorant because they hear stories about psychopaths starving their babies by feeding them apple juice and soy milk.
Why should meat-eating be the default, "appropriate" diet for your son? If I were a meat eater, and I fed my son a meat-heavy diet, no one would bat an eyelash, even though I would be doing him (and the animals) a huge disservice. But, uh oh, watch out for those vegetarians!
Don't be ashamed to say you are raising your son vegetarian. People often ask me if I am going to raise my children vegan. "Heck yes!" I tell them.
Um... people all over the world are raised vegetarian. There are millions of vegetarians worldwide who raise their kids as vegetarian. Yet another reason to get out of ethnocentric Texas.
world vegetarian numbers
Um... people all over the world are raised vegetarian. There are millions of vegetarians worldwide who raise their kids as vegetarian. Yet another reason to get out of ethnocentric Texas.
world vegetarian numbers
Interesting. I really thought that the veg movement was taking off. Hopefully in a few more years we will see those numbers change.
The numbers don't include a lot of countries that would up our numbers, like India. The UK is going gangbusters with 6 1/2% of the population being vegetarian-ish. It's hard to look at numbers because vegetarianism is something self-described and who knows if how the people go the numbers is consistent?
My mom gave me a hard time about this when Noah was little. She was like, "well, you aren't giving him a choice!" and my response was, "well, you didn't give me a choice either!" Unless I have blocked out the conversation where my mother said, "do you want to eat animals, or vegetables?" We just ate what we were served and didn't question it.
I think as parents we have every right to raise our children under our own belief systems. Isn't that what parenting is about? Being a role model and passing on your morals and beliefs in the best way that you can?
I mean, when there's a catholic family, or a jewish family with children, I doubt they give their kids a choice about what religion they would like to be raised. Or if you live in the city, do you ask your children if they would rather live in the country? I think as parents we need to be the ones in charge. Of course they will make their own choices some day, but while they are under our rooftops, they make choices based on our lifestyles.
Come on!
My mom gave me a hard time about this when Noah was little. She was like, "well, you aren't giving him a choice!" and my response was, "well, you didn't give me a choice either!" Unless I have blocked out the conversation where my mother said, "do you want to eat animals, or vegetables?" We just ate what we were served and didn't question it.
I think as parents we have every right to raise our children under our own belief systems. Isn't that what parenting is about? Being a role model and passing on your morals and beliefs in the best way that you can?
I mean, when there's a catholic family, or a jewish family with children, I doubt they give their kids a choice about what religion they would like to be raised. Or if you live in the city, do you ask your children if they would rather live in the country? I think as parents we need to be the ones in charge. Of course they will make their own choices some day, but while they are under our rooftops, they make choices based on our lifestyles.
Come on!
Exactly! Every parent raises her children according to her values! Vegetarianism is no different than any other value system we inevitably impose on our children. And as they grow older, they can decide whether or not they want to keep it forever. That's how everything else in parenting works!
coworker: so, is the little one going to be forced into that "vegetable lifestyle" too?
snowqueen: heck no! i'm not that crazy, i'm planning to make daily trips to McDs so there's some real food in the house!
It`s funny how peoples ignorance makes them look so stupid sometimes. To this day people think a child is suffering from starvation if they are raised veg.....
So you are going to feed him fish and chicken??? LOL
I would've given her the most sarcastic answer in the history of Earth.
C'mon now...don't tease us. What is it? Other prego-veg*n mommies-to-be could probably use it.
It's tough to say exactly what I would say. I'd have to be in the moment.
Yesterday, my GF was complaining about one of her friends asking her "what can you eat?" and I said "oh, well, I can't eat anything. Nothing at all. I stopped eating recently, you should try it out, it works wonders for the body."
Friend: So if you have kids, do you plan to raise them vegan too?
Me: I will do what's in the best interest of my child because my child's health comes first. (Translation: Studies have proven that a vegan diet is healthier, so yes, my child will be raised on a healthy vegan diet).)
Haha, well done, Saskia! That's a great response. Really great. I'll have to remember it.
co-worker: so are you going to raise your son vegetarian?
SQ: heavens no! i'd hate to let the little guy's cholesterol get too low! gotta build up those artery walls while they're young!
I just love the way outsiders think they should have a say in how you live, when those same people would tell you just exactly what to do with your opinion of their life! The loudest critics are always the ones that react with hostility when you make the most friendly comments possible.
I would probably respond: "And this affects you--how?"
Tell him/her to go hang it in a tree. A nice, veg*n tree that often gets hugged by wheatgerm munching macrobiotic Buddhists! :-D
family friend; but children need proteen.
Me; they do??
My mom gave me a hard time about this when Noah was little. She was like, "well, you aren't giving him a choice!" and my response was, "well, you didn't give me a choice either!" Unless I have blocked out the conversation where my mother said, "do you want to eat animals, or vegetables?" We just ate what we were served and didn't question it.
I think as parents we have every right to raise our children under our own belief systems. Isn't that what parenting is about? Being a role model and passing on your morals and beliefs in the best way that you can?
I mean, when there's a catholic family, or a jewish family with children, I doubt they give their kids a choice about what religion they would like to be raised. Or if you live in the city, do you ask your children if they would rather live in the country? I think as parents we need to be the ones in charge. Of course they will make their own choices some day, but while they are under our rooftops, they make choices based on our lifestyles.
Come on!
Exactly! Every parent raises her children according to her values! Vegetarianism is no different than any other value system we inevitably impose on our children. And as they grow older, they can decide whether or not they want to keep it forever. That's how everything else in parenting works!
I absolutely agree with these comments! I had this same conversation the other day with a semi-new co-worker of mine. She's almost 30 years old & had never heard of veganism before someone at work said something about me being vegan. (Not judging her; just saying because I think that's so rare!) Anyway, she's been asking me a lot about veganism, which I rather enjoy because it's an opportunity to share information, and she recently asked if I will raise my kids vegan. First, I prefaced my answer by saying that I don't know yet if I want to have children (which then started another conversation about how I was crazy for possibly choosing not to have kids ::)), but when I eventually got around to my vegan children answer, this is the summary of how it went:
Me: "Of course I would raise him or her vegan! Why wou--"
Co-Worker: :o "You would really do that to your child???""
Me: "Well, I would do that FOR my child; not to them. I wouldn't be depriving them of anything they need, and they would still enjoy delicious food that's also good for them. It's an extremely rewarding way of living, and would prepare them for a lifetime of health, compassion for animals, and environmental consciousness. I'm sure it wouldn't be without its challenges, but it would be worth it. Plus, my boyfriend & I (the person I'm presumably having children with) are vegan, so... Why wouldn't we want to pass those morals & beliefs to our child?"
Co-Worker: :busted: "Hmmm... That makes sense. I see what you're saying."
:D I was actually rather proud of myself because when I used to be faced with questions like this, I'd get all flustered & not say everything I truly believe... I think it helped that we have had prior discussions about why I'm vegan. I was proud of my co-worker, too, for being open-minded & not getting defensive over how she feeds her son (not vegan, obviously). But I don't know how this same conversation would go with someone who wasn't familiar with veganism or my personal beliefs.
Nice, JC! It's so hard to sounds thoughtful when you're put on the spot sometimes. Good job!
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