my 15 yr old son just informed me that he's interested in a student exchange to another country FOR A YEAR!!!! i almost started crying because i couldn't imagine a year without my son.
anyway, how would you feel about your child doing this and staying with a family who would raise him for a year and you know nothing about them?
if the family is from a different religion, how could he keep up the practice of his faith, which is important to him?
2007-10-18 09:13:33 · 37 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
actually, i'm no very concerned with the religious aspect of it, but all my contacts are in here and i wanted their opinions so i had to make sure religion was included in the question
2007-10-18 09:42:46 · update #1
To be honest, i don't think i could allow my child to do this. To basically let go of my teenager at at time when parenting is so important would just go against all my beliefs.
Really thats what your doing~ asking a stranger to raise your child for a year. Something no one would consider doing in different circumstances. Especially in todays world.
But thats just my opinion.
Ariel
2007-10-18 13:27:38 · answer #1 · answered by *~Ariel Brigalow Moondust~* 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As "mom" - I'd be terrified. But that fear would simply be from my child (and I have 4) being so far away. What if something happened to her (they're all girls)? What if she gets hurt? What if something happens between point A and point B?
Once I get all that out of the way (or at the very least, addressed), I'd have a chance to let the rest of my brain kick in.
Change is essential for growth. Knowledge is a gift from the Gods. To deny either would be a disservice to my child.
If the family is a different religion, that's a wonderful opportunity for the child to be exposed to the way others live and integrate their beliefs into their daily life. If the child's faith is strong, their ability to practice isn't even an issue.
Just my two cents.
2007-10-18 11:54:41 · answer #2 · answered by shewolf_magic 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a great opportunity for your son. You should rejoice in this possibility to learn more about the world, about other people, about other peoples' religious beliefs and, not the least, about himself!
Even more helpful if it involves learning a foreign language and a different kind of culture.
A different religion really doesn't sound like a problem. If he has a good grounding in his own religion, he can continue it on his own, if he doesn't, one year's religious break should be no problem. Living with a family of different beliefs would teach him a lot also about his own beliefs, putting them in a sound perspective, which gives him a much better starting-point if he wants to dig deeper in his own religious tradition.
Of course you will miss him, but you will learn a lot from it too, and every parent have to be prepared to let go of their children in due time. Better see it as a practice for the final letting-go when he's a grown up leaving home for good. And one year passes faster than you think!
2007-10-18 11:36:17 · answer #3 · answered by juexue 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whoa, I'd have a hard time with that. I think study abroad is a great idea, but I couldn't let my kid go for a year! They can do that in college. I'd suggest waiting for college, personally. But that's just me. If my kid really wanted to go, I'd do it.
I'm sure exchange families are well aware of the fact that the child they host will likely follow a different religion. You'd just have to make it clear ahead of time and make sure it wouldn't be a problem. If he's going to most European countries, they are far less crazy about religion there, so it would be unlikely to present a conflict.
2007-10-18 09:23:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it a marvelous opportunity.
First though, I would check out the organization sponsoring the exchange. I would wish to know if they have any particular agendas, what their record was (as far as safety and such). I would need to know what country my child was going to, and how safe it was. I would wish to communicate with the host family. I would need to know how able my child would be to communicate with me freely and often.
My close friend had a daughter spend at least a semester in France, and this girl grew immensely from the experience. It can be frightening, but it is not an experience to be dismissed lightly.
As well as what the other country can do for your child, you might ask yourself how ready is your child for the experience. Are they responsible, or do they expect things to be done for them? Will they take part in the chores that might need to be done? What the hosts can do is only half of the equation.
2007-10-18 09:23:06 · answer #5 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Calm down for one. This can be a truly rewarding experience for your son. Do your research and weigh the pro's and con's. Talk to others that have been in this same situation. Don't be selfish in saying you couldn't live a year without him. If the receiving family is a different religion, then they will know this going into it. Why can't he keep the practice of his faith?
2007-10-18 09:19:07 · answer #6 · answered by Y!A P0int5 Wh0r3 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would have loved to have this kind of opportunity when I was a kid, and I bet most adults would agree. If he is OK with being away for a year, and he is trustworthy (I wouldn't bring this up if he were just a bit older, but 15 is a little young for world travel) then go for it. But, be sure he is fully aware of what it means as well and that a year is a long time in a 15 yo's life.
If more people (was going to say Americans, but I believe you are Canadian) did this kind of thing and got exposed to other cultures, we would have more understanding and less war. What is that quote by Mark Twain...
Travel is fatal to bigotry, racism and narrow-mindedness.
2007-10-18 09:27:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's at this age that they start questioning their own beliefs anyway. I had friends who did way back when I was in HS. Some of them had great stories about their host family, while others had horror stories. I heard one about a girl who ended up doing nothing but housework and babysitting for her host family, to the point that she felt like a prisoner in their house. Not trying to scare you, but your son ought to keep these things in mind before he decides to go. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, he's going to form his own beliefs regardless of how well you brought him up. I can sympathize though... when my kids are old enough I know I'd have a hard time with the idea of not seeing them for a year.
As for how could he practice his faith, that sort of depends on what that faith is and where he's going... a pagan might have to be sort of low key in some countries, for example.
2007-10-18 09:23:00 · answer #8 · answered by average person Violated 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If his faith were important to him...he will continue to practice it no matter where he is in the world or who he is with.
Mine might...we would have to talk it through, but I don't think I would interfere too much. At 15, they can make that kind of decision on their own. May find it was not all the fun and games originally thought...either way it would be a learning experience.
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-10-18 09:24:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's fifteen, so it's not like they'll be brainwashing him or anything; he can take what he learns from them, consider it, then choose whether or not to adopt it into his personal philosophy.
As for his religion, it depends what faith he is. If his faith involves regular visits to institutions of worship, it could be problematic, especially if he'll be visiting a country where those views are a minority. Most host families would be very reasonable and would try to accommodate his beliefs, however.
2007-10-18 09:26:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋