Prayers for my five year old

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puppylove

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My husband and I recently took our child out of public school and enrolled her into the local Catholic school. It was the best decision we could have ever made.

This morning I turned the TV on and changed the channel to EWTN. My 5 year old asked me why I put it on that? I explained that this is what Fr. Mark asked of the church parishioners to thank Jesus when we get up and not turn on the news. I explained that this was my way. Instead of turning on the news, I turn on EWTN and start my day like this. She then said, “Jesus is not real!” She referred to Jesus and Mary as a stone or I think she meant statue. I thought I was going to fall on the floor. I tried to explain to her that just because we do not see Jesus or Mary that doesn’t mean He is not real. I also tried to explain to her that Mary was taken up to heaven body and soul, but she is too young to understand.

Please pray that Jesus find His way into her heart and she understands how to have FAITH and she will believe. She now has religion everyday since going to Catholic school and I think she has a lot of questions. I always have told her that her middle name is for the Blessed Mother, Mary and she is named after Her.
 
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women and
blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
 
DO NOT leave the responsibility for your child establishing a personal understanding and relationship with GOD to Catholic Schools. You must have a faith filled home to build that foundation. EWTN is a good media, and there are many catholic cartoon and animated story CD’s you should have as well, as kids learn from that media.
But, most importantly, you need to have an active family prayer time. After dinner or at some set time, the Family Prays the Rosary.
 
She’s just a little girl and understands things in a juvenile way. The concept of God is really complex—too complex for a 5 year-old to fully understand. 5 year-olds think that what you see is what you get.

Just keep teaching her about God and how things can exist without us seeing them, and give non-religious examples of such things to help her understand that God can exist as well without us physically seeing Him.
 
I am praying for your daughter now and I will include your intention for her in my rosary offering prayers tonight …
 
Lord please guide this mother and grant her the skills to educate and guide her young daughter to know of You and may Your Holy Spirit guide both Mother and daughter to a greater understanding.Amen

Mother Mary please intercede for this mother that she will know how to guide and educate her daughter to understand
Memorare (Prayer to Our Lady)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen
 
puppylove said:
She then said, “Jesus is not real!” She referred to Jesus and Mary as a stone or I think she meant statue. I thought I was going to fall on the floor. I tried to explain to her that just because we do not see Jesus or Mary that doesn’t mean He is not real. I also tried to explain to her that Mary was taken up to heaven body and soul, but she is too young to understand.
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I have a friend who is homeschooling her kids in faith formation (i.e. these are public school kids, but instead of formation/CCD classes at our parish, she is teaching them herself). When she explained transubstantiation to her daughter (age 6 or 7), the little girl replied, “That’s the biggest lie I’ve ever heard!”

Some kids are born skeptics.

As aghast as any parent would be to hear these words out of a young child, I think it’s actually a very good thing. Your daughter has already reached the age of reason, and is using her ability to think. She’s figured out that an image of something is not the same as that thing. Ours is a reasonable faith, so a child so naturally disposed to using her intellect could end up with a strong, deep faith.

If I were you (and I don’t know your daughter, so you’ll have to decide what will work for you), I would demonstrate how an image of a thing is not that thing—but the thing can still be real. Show her family photos and paintings of real people or objects (Google the images if you don’t own such a painting). I would also show her images of things that are not real, like unicorns and dragons and even cartoon characters. An image of something does not tell you if it is real or not real.

The you can explain to her some of the ways we know God is real. Look at creation: it had to come from somewhere. I think that might be the easiest thing “proof” of God for a young kid with a “show-me” attitude.

When she’s a little older, I would teach her apologetics. This way she will learn the “whys” of Catholicism, not just the “whats” (that’s catechism).
 
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
 
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I have a 19 year old daughter who attended this same Catholic school in Pre-K, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. She is now a sophomore in college and I don’t ever have to worry whether or not she goes to church. I always took her to church and taught religion when she was in elementary school so she has been always exposed to our religious beliefs. When I implied that we made the best decision by putting our 5 year old in Catholic schools I merely meant that I knew for sure she would be getting an awesome Catholic education as my parents gave me. It meant a big difference going to Catholic schools from 1st through 8th grades. I wish I could have given this same gift to my older daughter, but luckily I did a really good job with her and she is very well rounded and knows right from wrong fortunately…

Thanks again all!!!
 
Lord, please grant Mary the gift of faith. Help her parents to develop in her a deeper understanding of her faith by praying together with her and reading the Bible with her. EWTN has good programs for children that could help Mary understand things better. May Mary be able to view these programs as part of her recreation time and grow into a faithfilled young woman on fire with love for you and Mary. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer. Amen.
 
Praying for your little one! Don’t lose faith, and don’t leave her religious education up to the school or watching EWTN or reading from the Faith and Life books or any other catechism. Show by example and your little one will come around. Don’t preach - pray! We are praying alongside you.
 
Can you offer your 5 year old a picture of a family member and ask her if that person is real? We have rememberances of everyone we love to remember them when the loved one is not in our presence.

I will be praying for you and your daughter. I was so surprised and elated the day my son and I were discussing science. I made a comment about the speed of light and tried to get his opinion about what light was. and he just simply said “God is Light.” I was glad to learn that the seeds I planted grew into a beautiful flower.

Take care and keep on being the best for your angel.
Rose
 
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