My child is becoming very anti-Catholic

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Take your daughter out for an ice cream just you and her, mom and daughter time. Talk to her. Reconnect with her. Remind her how precious she is to you and how much you love her. Love wins .
 
She’s saying things like “I don’t ever want to be a dumb Catholic”. “I’m never going to be Catholic. Never, never, never.” “Mass is so boring and stupid. I hate it.” “Are we going to learn about stupid Catholic stuff today?” “I hate going to Mass and I hate the Catholic Church.”

She regularly attends American Heritage Girls sponsored by the parish we attend, and has no problem with that. She LOVES it. Sometimes she’ll even say she loves going to Mass, and likes learning about the Saints. She grabs her rosary when she’s really scared or upset, and she asks Mary and St Francis to pray for her and our animals.

We homeschool and I have always done a lot in spiritual formation, and since my awakening to the Church, I’ve been teaching my kids about the Liturgical, about Saints and having Feast day celebrations, etc. It seems like the closer I’m getting to becoming Catholic the more resistance she’s showing.

Maybe I’m just letting her words affect me more than they should. As a convert, of course I want my family to come into the Church with me, happily, but I know this may not happen. It just hurts my momma heart when she says these ugly things. And it truly may just be her way with coping with the changes in a not so great way.
 
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So, it’s not any specific teaching or tradition she has a problem with?She probably just doesn’t want to miss out with the friends she’s made.
 
Does she cross herself with holy water?
Does the fact of the Catholic change cause any arguments in the home between, say, your husband and you? Did any significant changes occur around this time?
 
8 year olds are just full of opinions. Are you and dad on the same page? That is the important thing. Kids tend to follow the religious views of dad.
 
She’s eight.
Eight year olds are a mishmash of emotion and misinformation.
And/or she thinks Mommy is changing and she’s scared.
Or somebody’s giving her ideas.

I would try (gently!) to find out where these ideas are coming from, correct her where you can, but don’t make a big whoop about it.
Do NOT set up a power struggle.
And let her grow out of it.
 
I tend to agree with what most others are saying about 8 year olds. But it is hard to hear that coming from their mouths as a mom, isn’t it!? My kids aren’t anti in their statements but definitely complain about “boring” Mass, and I cringe inside.
We homeschool too! And I have made sure to add solid religious learning in to their day like you are. My question would be have you explained the parts of the Mass to her? What is happening… How we are sitting where heaven meets earth during Mass. Maybe since Mass is harder to follow then Baptist services (I attended Baptist churches for a while) she is acting out because it’s unknown?
Also, I would recommend “daily defenders” from ascension press. They are kid friendly apologetic cards that hit the main topics Catholicism differs from protestants…with a bible verse to memorize, a little sentence on church teaching, and then cross references to other verses. Might help open up the discussion with her.
I will be praying for your family, and hope to see sometime soon an update about her attitude softening! 🙂
Also, welcome home!
 
SarahKate said:
I’m tryung not to push my husband on this too fast since he’s still very attached to the Baptist church.
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Why would you push him at all? Your husband is entitled to participate in whatever religion he desires. Is it possible your child is picking up on the fact that you are trying to convert the whole family and she doesn’t appreciate that? I would not underestimate the ability of an 8 year old to pick up on when they are being manipulated into doing something. I would continue to go to church and follow your own religious course and let her and her dad do the same.
 
do you know what reason she has for saying that? if not, it would probably be a good idea to ask her
 
I wouldn’t worry much about the 8-year old. Just be a good example. Be patient, self-controlled, humble, charitable. Children pick up on those things.
 
OK, ya…then I’m with other posters. My guess would be the difference in worship styles.
 
IDK, we looked at letting the boys do awanas at my church. We weren’t put off by anything.
 
She’s just protesting the sudden change. The more she learns, the more she’ll love the faith. It may be hard for them, but you need to start cutting the cord with the Baptists. They need to become more actively involved with Catholicism if they’re ever going to accept it.
 
IMHO, I’m wouldn’t say that the mother should be cutting the kid’s cords. Sounds like dad is still a Baptist and the kids were Baptist well before mom started the conversion process.

I come from a “mixed” marriage where I’m the non-Catholic party. We more practice mutual respect for each other’s faith background so I find it strange when I read that one parent should undermine the other when it comes to faith. I guess YMMV.
 
Baptists are historically known to be very virulently anti-Catholic. I strongly doubt your 8-year-old daughter formed these opinions on her own. As some other posters on here have suggested, try to find the cause of her statements and cut her off from the source. As her mother, you need to look after the spiritual well being of your daughter.

The Catholic Church is indeed the one true Church, the one Jesus Christ founded Himself. And no entity on earth has been more charitable than the Catholic Church. But it is hard to explain such things to an 8-year-old, so rather show her these things. Be a good Catholic example to your daughter. Perhaps if your daughter sees the charitable actions of the Church it will move her. Given time, she may want to get involved and help out too! But kids learn by seeing things and by example more than anything else!

Be patient, loving, but also firm with your daughter. If your husband will not be the spiritual leader of the family, that may be a cross you need to bear. I will pray for you and your family!
 
When you attend the Baptist Church, are they separating the kids into “youth mass” while the parents stay in the present?

I think if your hubby has little spiritual conviction and you do, you should be attending Catholic church together with your daughter.

I get you want him.to head the family, but let him do that in other areas. He is not leading your daughter and there was a saying somewhere about learning faith at the knee of your mother. He is choosing to take a back seat here
.
 
I’m only saying that because the OP mentioned that her husband didn’t have any religious convictions. It doesn’t sound like he would care either way.
 
I can see how an 8 year old would miss her Baptist Sunday School Class and Children’s Church (if you have that.) My sister has taught Sunday School for over 40 years and the kids love it. I am also familiar with AWANA and do not know them to be anti-Catholic. They stress Bible verse memorization and game activities. Does your parish have Faith Formation for children? I’m not sure how that works as I don’t have kids now, but I do see them go to their classes after Mass. I learned my anti-Catholicism from my parents (who are still Baptist). I would suggest talking with her and really listening, even writing down what she says, and let it sit for a bit. Pray over her reactions. I think she would react the same if you told her she were switching schools, moving to a new house, etc. I also think you and your husband need to be united in this change. Talk with your priest and RCIA group. Maybe your family continues at the Baptist Church and you attend Mass on your own. Or progress gradually?
 
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