Hellobee Boards Topic: Did you start going to church once you had LOs?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Did you start going to church once you had LOs? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 03:31:56 +0000 Minnie_Girl on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-290928 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:27:05 +0000 Minnie_Girl 290928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We'll continue going to church with our LOs. I find it a little strange when people only take their kids for the perceived community benefits, not because they share the beliefs of the community. I think it's important that people give their kids exposure to different beliefs, but it's even *more* important for parents to be involved in things they fully believe in, and for kids to see that commitment! MrsBrewer on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-290889 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:53:23 +0000 MrsBrewer 290889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DH and I go to church every Sunday (we try to!) and we will bring our future children to church with us. Probably when they are small we will hold them in the service, but once they get a little older have them sit in the nursery. Lozza on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-290883 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:47:13 +0000 Lozza 290883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We also live in a big city, so I'm not really worried about exposing LO to other faiths. He'll have friends from other faiths, since it's a diverse area, plus there are so many activities and museums and festivals in our area that would help teach kids about other cultures and religions that I don't anticipate that being a problem. My in-laws used to joke about the inoculation theory of religion; you have to expose kids to some religion when they're young so that they don't all of the sudden discover it in college and binge and go crazy with it :) Lozza on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-290871 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:42:33 +0000 Lozza 290871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm Catholic-ish, and I think if I'd married someone who was some flavor of Christian, I'd have wanted to join an Episcopal church. As it happens, DH is Jewish, and his family is very into being culturally Jewish, and he really wanted to raise our kids Jewish. I like how his family does religion, and it meant a lot to them (whereas my family doesnt' really care what we do, religion-wise, with our kids), so we're planning to find a reform congregation and join when LO is a a little older and can start religious school. We've tried out a temple or two in town, but probably won't really participate or join till LO is older, and then we plan to make him do all the steps leading up to a bar mitzvah. I'm not converting, so we're looking for an interfaith-friendly temple. I'm also keeping holidays- LO will also grow up going to church with my family on Christmas and Easter and probably whenever we go to visit my grandparents. There's no religion that's really a perfect theological fit for our family, but we really like the cultural/community aspect of (some) organized religion(s). chopsuey on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-290733 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:15:59 +0000 chopsuey 290733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @tequiero21: our church has a nice nursing/mom room so i just chilled in there. Now Lo goes to the nursery and DH and I can worship together for an hour! It's nice :) the nursery takes babies as young as 6 weeks old, but we didn't start dropping her off til she was 1. DH, me and the baby usually just sat outside the sanctuary and watched on the monitors they have tequiero21 on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-290427 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 04:16:37 +0000 tequiero21 290427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i grew up going to church and definitely plan on taking my kids to church. that said, right now, i SO don't want to go to church. it's such a hassle with 2 kids - all i do is hold the kids and try to get them to go to sleep! i want our kids baptized but hope to find a good church first. i do think some people (and actually know a lot of people) who are not active churchgoers start going to church more for their kids, not themselves. they don't really care about the church but want their kids to learn the values and all. other's like the church's kids' programs. @chopsuey119: wow! that was young! was it hard? my hubby wouldn't let us go until our kids got their 2-month vaccinations hehe. lemondrop on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-290405 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 01:18:29 +0000 lemondrop 290405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, we've only each sporadically gone growing up (Protestant and Episcopalian). We don't plan to go regularly either now that we have a baby. We try to reserve as much of the weekend as possible for family time and are happy with that. Growing up I went to church with friends and grandparents, so I was exposed to many religions. It was always an open topic for discussion, so anytime I had a question, we talked about it. I'd like to continue in that regard with our family, open and accepting of all belief systems. I didn't get baptized until middle school, so unless a grandparent or great-grandparent gets hung up on it, we'll let him choose what he wants to do. sulli301 on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-290330 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 22:19:59 +0000 sulli301 290330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We went to church before DD was born, but didn't start going regularly until after we were married. We started taking DD @ 3 weeks & had her baptized @ 5 weeks old into the Catholic church. Rock n Roll on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-289208 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:26:09 +0000 Rock n Roll 289208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We both grew up going to church every Sunday with our parents, but before we had kids we were mostly Easter/Christmas people. When our daughter was around one we moved into an area that had churches again and started going most Sundays. Our church is really involved in volunteering and stuff, so I like taking her there to learn about helping other people and being active in your community (on top of learning about religion and God.) Our church also has a pre-school and stuff, so it's good for that, too. I think the decision to take your kids to church is really personal, and you have to think about what you want your kids to get out of it. But I think if you baptize your kid, you should probably take them to church just because you promise to raise your child with God and the church during the baptism (in my branch of Christianity, anyway.) looch on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-289101 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 06:41:42 +0000 looch 289101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I am a non practicing Catholic and my husband is a non practicing Protestant. We never went to church before our son was born, in fact, we've both "left" the church in Switzerland so we do not have to pay taxes to it. When we return to the US, we will probably consider going to a Lutheran church, we were married by a Lutheran minister and he's awesome. BSB on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-289031 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 01:13:52 +0000 BSB 289031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I go to church about once a month. Bad Catholic, I know! Well, at least I go once a month. ;) My husband who is Lutheran does not practice. He, however, wants our kids to be raise Lutheran. So he 'says' he will start going back to (Lutheran) church when our kids are born. Or when I get pregnant. (Can't remember what we agreed.) I don't care which religion our LOs will be, as long as we practice/show/expose our kids to it. If he doesn't take the effort to go to his church then I'll take our kids to my church. pinkcupcake on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-289025 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:53:34 +0000 pinkcupcake 289025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We both regularly attended church since we were kids. We took LO to our church for the first time when she was 6 weeks old. jedeve on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-288599 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 16:37:02 +0000 jedeve 288599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @ladyfingers: We go regularly and will after (I hope!) which I know isn't what you are asking, haha. But being Catholic, I know exactly what you're talking about! It does seem like something people just 'do' when they have a kid. I think people do it after kids because it's how they were raised, they don't want to risk depriving their kids, they miss the community, you aren't going out on Saturday nights and too hungover on Sunday mornings, it's an incredibly emotionally trying time and prayer sounds good, you get to dress up baby in cute outfits, it's an excuse to get out of the house, you want to meet other parents, etc. etc. On the other hand, if it wasn't something you loved before, going with a squirmy baby isn't going to make it more fun. So there's a chance you go for a few weeks, think "this sucks" or "we'll try again in a few years" and then it just doesn't happen. I'd think about why you want to go. If you feel like something is lacking in your spiritual life, then that's so important to pay attention to! You need fed physically, emotionally, spiritually - especially as a new family. If it's something you believe is important for your kid, then I think it's worth a try too. LuLu Mom on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-240187 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 18:58:31 +0000 LuLu Mom 240187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We both grew up religious ( him Catholic me Methodist) but with older age don't attend as much as we would like. We both want to find a church we can go it as a family as we do want to raise our child(ren) as members of a church. LittleFox on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-240021 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 14:28:15 +0000 LittleFox 240021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DH and I go to church regularly and will continue to do so once LO arrives. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I just wanted to give some advice re: Catholic baptism. Many churches (not all, it differs by parish and diocese) will expect the parents to actually be registered in the parish in order to baptize their children. Some pastors also expect to see the parents at Mass in order to agree to baptize (again, not all, some are more lenient), so that's something to definitely check into before calling about the baptism. I post this because I know someone who was raised Catholic, along with her husband, but did not attend church and was not married in the church. When she called to baptize her baby, they were required to convalidate their marriage, take some classes, meet with the priest, and register in the parish. It sounds like a lot, but it makes total sense when you think of what baptism is. It's the first sacrament of initiation into the Catholic faith, so many priests want to make sure that the parents intend to raise a Catholic child before going through with it (rather than something to take lightly). I would consider that, and also the fact that a child cannot be unbaptized later, in considering whether to baptize just because. I'd also call around and ask the requirements of the local parish, so you don't end up like my friend and have to baptize the baby months after you originally intended. JerricaBenton on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-239990 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 12:52:42 +0000 JerricaBenton 239990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've always gone and was able to drag my husband along for holidays/when I promised a big breakfast afterward lol, but now that I am pregnant he's been coming with me on the regular, and I don't even have to beg, but he does like to stop at the bakery on the way home, haha. Mrs. Yoyo on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-239863 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 09:11:31 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 239863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I am a lapsed Catholic/agnostic, DH never went to church. I am considering checking out a UU church to see whether that would be a good fit, but other than that, I can't see me going back to church just for LO. Too much I disagree with; it would feel totally disingenuous. That said, my SIL and bro started going hard core once they had kids. heffalump on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-239860 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 09:05:48 +0000 heffalump 239860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Dh and I are Jewish, and we go to temple occasionally but not every day. Now that we have lo we go even less because its late at night so its hard with her..... but I hope as she gets older we'll start going more. regberadaisy on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-239735 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:23:08 +0000 regberadaisy 239735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. We are not religious but we both believe there is something up there. We want our kids to know about all religions. We plan to teach them briefly about all religions when they're old enough. Maybe monthly in a fun family way. Then they can decide for themselves if they believe and in which religion. re: Baptism. My husband and I decided early on we will NOT baptized on our children. We're not find of the catholic church nor do we particularly believe in the religion. I know we won't uphold is catholic upbringing. So I feel it's a farce to baptize her so we won't. ladyfingers on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-239710 Sat, 28 Jul 2012 22:41:19 +0000 ladyfingers 239710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ What about those who did not go to church prior to having children, and were not active in any particular faith or religion? chopsuey on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-239589 Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:54:53 +0000 chopsuey 239589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We went to church weekly before LO and started taking her when she was 2 weeks old. ladyfingers on "Did you start going to church once you had LOs?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-start-going-to-church-once-you-had-los#post-239518 Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:14:19 +0000 ladyfingers 239518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Both DH and I were raised Catholic and consider ourselves spiritual and believe in something, but are not active in church at all. We were discussing having the baby baptized, which I still want to do, but I'm curious whether others who weren't active in church or a particular faith, started going to church once you had children. On the one hand, it's not that I want to push anything on them (obviously since neither of us are particularly into it), but for some reason it seems like something you just "do"? Did anybody start going with your children when they were a little older? Or no? Part 2 question: And if not, how did you expose your child to different religious ideas/faiths to allow them to explore for themselves?