It has been a joy to have the conversations with our older children move to deeper and more serious levels. We look at it as a privilege to be able to be the ones to introduce our kids to the various important topics of life, whether it be faith, sex, politics, healthy relationships, or current world events. Our children know that they are completely free and encouraged to ask us any question at any time.
I have been looking forward to having our oldest child read the book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and then take the time to watch the movie together. [That's the rule of the house - you have to read the book before watching the movie. 
] What a creative, unique way to take a look at the Holocaust. It is a vivid, heavy look at the atrocities of that time in history, shown through the “innocent” perspective of two young boys. This story offers a wonderful opportunity for today’s children to “put themselves in their shoes” and envision what it might have been like to grow up as a Jewish or German child during the years of World War II.
I look forward to the discussions that this story will bring to the dinner table as well as to the trips to soccer practices. I pray that God will, once again, help us as parents to weave His truths into those conversations.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NLT) Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when your are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
April 27, 2009 at 8:11 am
This past year I finished up my degree and while taking a composition 2 class, we read the book NIGHT. I read that book and cried and cried. I then looked up, and wrote about for the class what nurses did when these prisoners were released, and then it REALLY hit me!!! The starvation, the bedsores, the death even with the BEST CARE, one on one care, their bodies were unable to heal. It made me very angry that this was allowed to go on in out grandparents era. I saw as a nurse that they were worse that tortured they were dead men walking, human skeletons, the worse kind of inhumane treatment thinkable. I have not saw the movie above, but will rent it and pray that our children realize the suffering of those that have gone before us, to give us the wonderful life we have today. Thanks for the post!!!! Char
April 27, 2009 at 8:22 am
Chris and I saw the movie in the theater (we had to search to find one that was playing it). I also read the book. They were quite different. The movie was very sad though, however I feel that all kids need to learn about the Holocaust. We recently were talking with some friends and their daughter in 8th grade had never heard about the Holocaust! I was baffled!
Daniel’s story is a great place for a kid to start. If you haven’t seen the Holocaust museum it there is a whole section on it geared for kids. Best part too, the museum is free.
April 27, 2009 at 11:04 am
You are a REAL mom, trusting the Only living God who REALly loves your children and facilitates in a REAL way the conversations, their development and growth. With the Lord’s help, such investment in our children will make us a gentler generation responding with Compassion for the world.
April 27, 2009 at 7:33 pm
LIfe is Beautiful is another amazing movie about the Holocaust. I will have to see the one that you are referring to. Amy Keller has mentioned it.
Keeping the communication open at home is ESSENTIAL especially as the kids get older and the topics are harder and much more painful.
April 29, 2009 at 2:24 pm
We have had a hard topic to cover here at the Rebisz house. The two girls from Pavilion who died in the car accident last Saturday were friends of ours. Brilyn, who will be 4 in May, asked a lot of questions, and by the grace of God, I think we were able to answer them pretty well.
I agree that being open and letting our kids know that they can ask about anything is really important. I have always thought that if they ask a question, it is appropriate to answer it on the same level they asked it. So, for my almost 4-year-old, the words and ideas were simple, but I answered each question. I would not want to brush a question off because I think the answer would be over her head; that could lead to false assumptions on her part and misunderstandings and even undue fear on her part. Better to be open and honest than mysterious and vague, because if a child is asking questions, he or she will come up with some kind of answer whether we supply it or not.
I am glad to see you covering the topic of the Holocaust, it too is an important topic. For anyone interested, Viktor Frankl is a very interesting author on the topic, covering the slippery slope of institutionalizing the disabled and aging, then discontinuing appropriate care, dehumanization, and finally scientific experimentation and genocide.
Well, that is a long enough comment I guess. Keep posting!
XOXO
Joce
May 8, 2009 at 10:48 am
Thank you for this resource…I will share with my adult children, as well.