MIL trying to send MY Jewish kids to Bible camp!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, people, it's not that complicated!! We just need a little time to ourselves to regroup and recharge while we watch the grandmonsters and thought the kids might feel the same way. Ya know, some time with their peers instead of the old farts.

Don't know any kids and this seemed like an easy solution. We proudly told the parents our plan. and they went ape shit about disrespect and boundaries.
Fine, cancel your trip, you show us who's boss. No skin off our asses!

Sure....

You might be bummed when they stop coming to see you at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, people, it's not that complicated!! We just need a little time to ourselves to regroup and recharge while we watch the grandmonsters and thought the kids might feel the same way. Ya know, some time with their peers instead of the old farts.

Don't know any kids and this seemed like an easy solution. We proudly told the parents our plan. and they went ape shit about disrespect and boundaries.
Fine, cancel your trip, you show us who's boss. No skin off our asses!

Did you even read the part about when these grandparents tried to have the children baptized?

[Anonymous]

Don't you get it? The in laws are undermining BOTH parents regarding a fundamental choice they have made about their lives and their children's lives. OP's husband's family can continue to be Christian, but they should respect OP and her husband's decision that their family will be Jewish. And yes, that is the will of the nuclear family. Jews don't send their kids to Bible camp.

Yes, I get it. But, I find it very interesting that someone who is very Jewish married a non-Jew. No one has mentioned this and the Op has ignored the question. If being Jewish is so important why not marry a Jew? Than there would be a Jewish MIL and FIL. Problem solved!

But, she didn't. If she doesn't want her children to have a relationship with their grandparents it may come back to bite them in the ass. The children could resent having no relations with the grandparents and you are modeling how to treat you in the future. What if they marry a Christian ( the horror) and decide to raise their children Christian? Would you try to sneak them into a Jewish camp? If you did and the son in law canceled your visit with your grandchildren....honestly how would you feel?

[Anonymous]

My kids sent to Bible camp, a lot of Jesus Mary and Joseoh. They are Catholic so fine. I feel she did this purposely. Your kids will have fun but I'd cancel camp unless she is doing it for a wee break from kids . The camps are pretty cheap could be why?

[Anonymous]

No, come on guys...it had to be a BIBLE camp? All of the different kinds of sports camps, art camps, cooking camps, just plain day camps...and the MIL chooses something religious, knowing the kids are being raised Jewish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You seem very controlling. I feel sorry for your husband.

+1000

And with no appreciation of the importance of extended family. "It doesn't take a village -- it just takes ME!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Don't you get it? The in laws are undermining BOTH parents regarding a fundamental choice they have made about their lives and their children's lives. OP's husband's family can continue to be Christian, but they should respect OP and her husband's decision that their family will be Jewish. And yes, that is the will of the nuclear family. Jews don't send their kids to Bible camp.

Yes, I get it. But, I find it very interesting that someone who is very Jewish married a non-Jew. No one has mentioned this and the Op has ignored the question. If being Jewish is so important why not marry a Jew? Than there would be a Jewish MIL and FIL. Problem solved!

But, she didn't. If she doesn't want her children to have a relationship with their grandparents it may come back to bite them in the ass. The children could resent having no relations with the grandparents and you are modeling how to treat you in the future. What if they marry a Christian ( the horror) and decide to raise their children Christian? Would you try to sneak them into a Jewish camp? If you did and the son in law canceled your visit with your grandchildren....honestly how would you feel?

As a wise old Jewish man once told me, "Marry in your tribe."

[Anonymous]

My Catholic kid is going to three weeks of Jewish camp and I'm the one sending him there.
Why? Because it's fun and inclusive.
I hope that the bible camp is that for your kids.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure why all these pps are ok with Jewish kids going to Christian camp. I am Orthodox Christian, and there is no way my kids are going to Catholic school or camp, even if it is free or "just for a break for grandma." If it is really that Grandma needs a little daily break, OP should have paid for some camp for kids that they both agree on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I joke that I would send my kid up for the Devil worship camp if it was the $25 that many of these bible camps are but, though I am Catholic/Christian you MIL is totally and completely out of line to have signed them up. Your husband needs to deal with this and short-term, she either agrees to not send them (hand on her bible) or you just don't go/leave them with her. The camp will be that $25/week so there is no financial hit. These camps usually don't do a hard church sell and are often/like one I send my DD to themed on a social justice issue - like food or water for the poor but the unethical message that your MIL is sending that she is willing to come between you and your husband, you and your children, you and your faith. She has right to do this.

It could also just be that that is where her friends are? If she goes to church with those people she trusts them to care for her grandkids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why all these pps are ok with Jewish kids going to Christian camp. I am Orthodox Christian, and there is no way my kids are going to Catholic school or camp, even if it is free or "just for a break for grandma." If it is really that Grandma needs a little daily break, OP should have paid for some camp for kids that they both agree on.

Well, you might take religion more seriously than some of us.

And, you know, if you are mixing religions in a marriage you can't be that religious. Unless the other spouse converted which I don't think is the case.
We had friends who said they celebrated 'birthmas' or 'chrismukkak' or 'Festivus' or whatever. Totally made up holidays they mostly just celebrated being with family on holidays - they weren't really into the specific religious ceremonies as one parent was Catholic and one Jewish.

[Anonymous]

I'd be angry too, OP. DH is a Reform Jew and I am a Protestant and there is no way we would be fine with either side sending our kids to a church- or temple-affiliated camp. We have kept the grandparents and other extended family in line by being absolutely fair in celebrating both heritages equally.

[Anonymous]

I think the bible camp at school is like vacation bible school, which is just a few hours of activity, and is free.
Kids that age cannot sit on grandma's couch all the time
look on the bright side, you are getting a week of free child care. A sleepaway camp would have set you back about $1000 per kid for a week

[Anonymous]

Bible camp is not the JCC. JCC is like the Y. It's not religious.

[Anonymous]

Op you sound very disrespectful to your husband's family and faith. I grew up in a mixed faith marriage and knew lots of mixed faith kids. All were exposed to both religions. Your kids will likely decide to be something other than Jewish later in life anyways. You should have married a Jew if your so hateful and intolerant of other religions.