[Parenting] Discussing a 6-year-old's proposal and how to teach views on marriage (Part 1)

The Christmas season.
The preschool my children attend is based on Christianity.
When Christmas comes around, they celebrate the birth of Jesus, so there's a very different, high-energy atmosphere compared to the rest of the world.

My eldest son, who is in his final year of preschool, will be performing in a play based on the birth of Jesus on the last day of winter school.
I'm embarrassed to even think this way, but

I can't help but think from an adult's perspective that there are some pretty edgy terms in there.

The key figures are the Virgin Mary and Joseph.
An impressive scene is their marriage.

Virgin Mary.
It has become just a phrase, and the children recite it fluently without even understanding the meaning.

And then there's the depiction of the two of them being anxious about having a child before they are married.

I was concerned about these two points first, but the children are different.

The hottest topic in the class was
"marriage."

Triggered by this play, marriage declarations like "I want to marry so-and-so" and "I'm going to marry so-and-so" started flying around the class in secret.

In the midst of this, my eldest son
confessed to me with a troubled look, "So-and-so says she wants to marry me!!!"

Wow, that's great! What did you say?

"I told her that my face might change when I grow up, so she might not recognize me. But she said that's okay. She said she'd find me anyway."

Love struck me right in the heart❤️❤️❤️❤️

After saying that, my eldest son looked shy but happy.
Good for you.
You found a sweetheart other than Mommy. (Dangerous)

Still, that girl,
she came out with a killer line that would put Eriko Kitagawa to shame.

Since hearing this, I've been greeting her mother, who I was already on good terms with, even more energetically.
We might become family, after all (just wishful thinking).

So, when I shared this bittersweet love story with a female friend (in her early 30s)...

Most people would just say how cute it is, but one person gave a realistic comment: "No, you're idealizing marriage too much. It's not good to romanticize marriage."

Although she is unmarried herself, I interpreted her words as coming from having seen the unhappy outcomes of those around her.

There are truly many different views on marriage, and it's clear that how you convey them changes a child's image of marriage.

Not everything goes well, and there are many complexities in adult relationships.

Actually, through Note, I've encountered new concepts and met couples with various perspectives😊

Next, I'll assert what I want to convey as a parent amidst these diversifying values!📖