Who am I?
*I think it’s important to note that I am not affiliated with the book, Raising Freethinkers, by Dale McGowan, et. al. However, the book is excellent and you should buy it right now! You should also check out Parenting Beyond Belief, which is excellent reading as well.
I’m a 31-year-old mom of two, living in conservative Oklahoma. For the past 6 years I have slowly realized that the things I “knew” to be true about the world were full of holes. The biblical passages I’d memorized as a kid raised more questions than the bible itself could answer. After almost 5 years of research, analyzing, and searching in the depths of my mind, I came to the conclusion that I probably don’t believe in a god. I say probably because none of us can never know for sure. I like to say I’m an agnostic with strong atheistic tendencies. Actually, I usually call myself a Humanist because “atheist” has such negative connotations.
Regardless of my label, I believe in a rational, humanistic approach to life. I no longer fear death (and therefore the possibility of going to hell) and now live my life in the present. I do not take people for granted, and follow the principle of doing what makes you happy as long as it doesn’t prevent others from doing what makes them happy. In short, I’m a freethinker.
I also believe in raising my children to decide for themselves what they want to believe about the world. I am raising them to be curious about the world around them and to explore and learn all they can. I am teaching them to ask questions and not just take things at face value. I had it easy as a kid. Religious excuses for life events were part of my nature, but my kids will be growing up differently, and, being in conservative Oklahoma, might face adversity for being freethinkers.
There are several books out there relating to parenting without religion, and a handful of blogs visible on Google search, which I’m currently reading and using to build my arsenal of answers for my children. I intend for Raising Freethinkers to be a resource and a place of encouragement (with a dash of humor and sarcasm) for freethinking parents who want to raise well-rounded, educated, and open-minded children without religion.
Need to know more? No problem.
I’m a crappy proofreader. I love music. I play guitar. My girls do not wear smocked dresses or hair bows as large as their heads. Actually, they wear plain old ponytails. I’m a business owner, a tech geek, and a graphic designer. I can’t stand the mall. I would love to be a politician and may go for it someday. I just graduated from OU (December 2012) – a little late in life, I know, but that’s the way things have gone for me. My family did not value education and therefore did not stress the importance of going to college. I had to figure that out for myself. I’m a little bitchy when it comes to life sometimes, but only because my eyes have been opened to all the stupidity and conformity that resides in the world. I’m working on that, though. Anything else? Just ask!
So what makes me an expert? I’m not.
And if you’re here for expert advice, you’re in the wrong place. I just like to think that there are other parents out there who need to know they aren’t alone. There are other moms and dads going through the same trials and facing the same questions. I hope I can help.
