Ummm, Parent of DS Friend told me I was using religious propaganda on their son...

[Anonymous]

Drop her like a hot potato. The only apology necessary is her apology to you for the way she treated you. I guarantee you this woman has a reputation for this behavior in more than this context. It'll all come out soon and you'll feel vindicated. Don't give her a second thought. You'll find nice friends who treat you right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. that sucks, although she probably did you and your son a big favor. It's never too early to avoid the crazies.

Yeah, but I feel like things are going to be so awkward in the future.

[Anonymous]

I'm an atheist and I let my kids watch Veggie Tales--they were so funny! My kids are adults now & we still laugh about some of the songs and stories. I think the lady was totally awful in the way she confronted you and dealt with the situation. I'm sorry & I hope you make some better & more normal friends!

[Anonymous]

She's crazy and I feel sorry for her kid. However, there's nothing you an do about her behavior. Smile and nod when you see her. The hardest part will be explaining to your son why Aiden won't be coming over any more if he asks for a playdate. Hopefully he won't, but you can talk about Aiden's Mommy being "busy".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because on Saturday I let them watch an episode of Veggie Tales. It was an episode that had absolutely no religious or spiritual mentions in this episode, it's just "Silly Songs with Larry". I was kind of flabbergasted, she came to me this afternoon at pick-up and said she wanted to talk to me. She told me she didn't appreciate me trying to convert her son (uh, we are Jewish-Agnostics). I told her that I meant nothing by it, that my son just loves the Silly Songs with Larry CD and they both wanted to watch it. I told her numerous times there was nothing religious in this particular episode, and she just didn't listen. I finally just apologized and said I'd run through everything by her before we watched it, and that it would never happen again. She told me that I wouldn't have to worry about that because her son would never come to my house again, and that my son was no longer welcome at hers. I just said "ok" and got my son. I cried on the way back home. My son just started school in the area and her son has been friendly to my son, his first friend in our new town. Now I've gone and ruined it by accident. I'm also pissed at the other mom. I shouldn't have let them watch the DVD, I didn't think twice about it. I just think she's overreacting and honestly a bit nuts. Do you think there is a way to fix this? Maybe she was overly upset and spoke on impulse?

I would email her apologizing again, saying also that you hope the adult conflict stays with the adults and that perhaps the boys could have a park-play date on this, this, or this day.

[Anonymous]

I would not apologize again. She heard what this person had to say and apologized. If OP want to make the attempt, email to say she doesn't understand, as she has not motive to convert her son. Invite the mom and sonto a park. The boys really enjoy each other. I would hate for them to lose this friendship over our not understanding each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because on Saturday I let them watch an episode of Veggie Tales. It was an episode that had absolutely no religious or spiritual mentions in this episode, it's just "Silly Songs with Larry". I was kind of flabbergasted, she came to me this afternoon at pick-up and said she wanted to talk to me. She told me she didn't appreciate me trying to convert her son (uh, we are Jewish-Agnostics). I told her that I meant nothing by it, that my son just loves the Silly Songs with Larry CD and they both wanted to watch it. I told her numerous times there was nothing religious in this particular episode, and she just didn't listen. I finally just apologized and said I'd run through everything by her before we watched it, and that it would never happen again. She told me that I wouldn't have to worry about that because her son would never come to my house again, and that my son was no longer welcome at hers. I just said "ok" and got my son. I cried on the way back home. My son just started school in the area and her son has been friendly to my son, his first friend in our new town. Now I've gone and ruined it by accident. I'm also pissed at the other mom. I shouldn't have let them watch the DVD, I didn't think twice about it. I just think she's overreacting and honestly a bit nuts. Do you think there is a way to fix this? Maybe she was overly upset and spoke on impulse?

What is her faith?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say - send her a brief email that this was all a misunderstanding and make sure you tell her that you are NOT religious at all. Also, let her know that her overreaction hurt your feelings.

This seems like the wrong response to me, particularly the "make sure you tell her that you are NOT religious at all" bit. Even if she were religious, the reaction by the other parent was over the top and inappropriate. Saying something like "don't worry, it's OK, I'm not religious" sort of suggests that atheism is acceptable or desirable, which could compound the problem is the other family is religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This! She sounds crazy. Even if veggie tales is mildly christian in some way (I think), who cares. It's not like satanism or witchcraft. I would not be offended if my DD (we are SDA and Catholic) watched some mildly jewish, muslim, or buddhist cartoon. ITS A FREAKING CARTOON! Anyone that opposed to any religion IMO is psycho and I would be glad that weirdo is out of your life. She is obviously a very hard core left wing loon so far you can't even reach her loon universe. You don't need people like that in your life. And even if she wasn't overtly crazy, what are this bitch's values? Where do they come from? I bet she has none, hence the poor treatment of you, a fellow human being with a little one. So forget her.

Shorter PP: I wouldn't be offended, therefore nobody should be offended. Also, non-religious people who are non-religious are crazy.

[Anonymous]

708 and first 711 here. I see now that the op's former friend is an atheist.

which figures. nothing nuttier than an atheists who worries about religion.

[Anonymous]

OP, here's what I think:

1. We are non-religious. If I learned that my child had been shown Veggie Tales on a playdate, I would be upset. I don't like being proselytized, and I especially don't want my child being proselytized.
2. However, my reaction would be, "Since we are non-religious, do you think that in future you could not show my child Veggie Tales on playdates?", rather than "That's it, you horrible person, no playdates ever again!".

If you apologized sincerely, then I think that the next step is up to her, to accept your apology or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, here's what I think:

1. We are non-religious. If I learned that my child had been shown Veggie Tales on a playdate, I would be upset. I don't like being proselytized, and I especially don't want my child being proselytized.
2. However, my reaction would be, "Since we are non-religious, do you think that in future you could not show my child Veggie Tales on playdates?", rather than "That's it, you horrible person, no playdates ever again!".

If you apologized sincerely, then I think that the next step is up to her, to accept your apology or not.

You people are insane. Not all Veggie Tales proselytize. In fact, since the title was sold to a secular media company, it's dropped the religion and airs on NBC.

Here is a link that tells you more. Be warned, however -- you may encounter religious undertones on the Web site, so if that frightens you, don't click.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/TV/Chopped-Veggietales.aspx#

[Anonymous]

OP, you sound like a troll. Claiming this person is an atheist sounds like a shit-stirring move -- atheists in general not only don't care about religion in popular culture, they're also unaware of where it appears in popular culture (e.g., Veggie Tales).

I could believe this post if your son's friend's family was deeply religious but not Christian, or even a Christian within a specific sect that hates Veggie Tales, but otherwise I call bullshit on your story. No way did that actually happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, here's what I think:

1. We are non-religious. If I learned that my child had been shown Veggie Tales on a playdate, I would be upset. I don't like being proselytized, and I especially don't want my child being proselytized.
2. However, my reaction would be, "Since we are non-religious, do you think that in future you could not show my child Veggie Tales on playdates?", rather than "That's it, you horrible person, no playdates ever again!".

If you apologized sincerely, then I think that the next step is up to her, to accept your apology or not.

What does "non-religious" mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She sounds like a loon! I'm sorry you were hurt by her crazy overreaction. Personally I'd just move on and find other friends.

This! She sounds crazy. Even if veggie tales is mildly christian in some way (I think), who cares. It's not like satanism or witchcraft. I would not be offended if my DD (we are SDA and Catholic) watched some mildly jewish, muslim, or buddhist cartoon. ITS A FREAKING CARTOON! Anyone that opposed to any religion IMO is psycho and I would be glad that weirdo is out of your life. She is obviously a very hard core left wing loon so far you can't even reach her loon universe. You don't need people like that in your life. And even if she wasn't overtly crazy, what are this bitch's values? Where do they come from? I bet she has none, hence the poor treatment of you, a fellow human being with a little one. So forget her.

Hmmmm

Well, I'm not a fan of organized religion, but definitely don't oppose my children of exploring it. I think non-religious people can have moral and values, I do. I just found her to be a bit radical (in a bad way) about how she handles her child and religion. She was so hysterical she wouldn't let me get a word in, she came across as someone who thinks the entire world is against them. I can't deal with that mentality. It was completely innocent.

Same PP again. You are right, it was innocent, that women is crazy with her hysterics over something that was no big deal. I could only imagine how she would handle your son hitting hers once, or her son skinning his knee at your house, etc. Or her son eating some food on her ban list of non-akaline, non-organic, or non-locally produced foods she keeps in her psycho head but forgot to mention. I bet she'd be even more hysterical. Good riddens.

That's a new one. It's "good riddance".