From the Growing Up Around the World Series of Luce Publications™

By Jim Luce

Skippy was eight years old, and he felt very grown up
when he realized he could outgrow an idea.

Skippy was smart. His dad was a doctor. His mom was a psychologist.
They called Skippy a skeptic—someone who didn’t believe everything.

At the dinner table, Skippy’s parents and grandparents talked about
big things. Skippy listened carefully. He could hardly wait to be grown up.

They talked about magical thinking—how kids believe in things
that make them happy, like the tooth fairy… and sometimes
imagine things when they’re scared, like monsters under the bed.

Skippy’s grandfather often said, “How on earth…?” Skippy liked
the sound of it. How on earth…? It made him feel important.

Skippy loved to laugh at the idea of the Easter Bunny. “How on earth is
a rabbit hopping around the world carrying chocolate eggs?” Skippy asked.

Then Skippy noticed something. Parents who loved their children hid
chocolate eggs and jellybeans… because their parents had hidden them before.
It was a family tradition. Skippy decided it just wasn’t for him anymore.

Skippy also stopped believing, “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back!”
His mom said, “My back is just fine.” His dad said, “That saying
makes no sense at all.” Skippy liked it when things made sense.

Skippy even stopped believing in Santa Claus. “How on earth could Santa
ride around the world in one night… on a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer?” Skippy
decided there wasn’t a real Santa—just very nice people pretending to be Santa.

Sometimes Skippy’s stomach made a little sound.Toot. Sometimes the sound
came from by his dad. Toot. His dad would look up, surprised, and say, “Tree frogs!”
Then he would add very seriously, “Dads don’t fart.” Skippy believed him when
he was little. Eventually… he figured it out. Hmmm, Skippy thought. Dad joke.

Skippy’s parents were Christian. His dad was Catholic. His mom
was Lutheran. They went to church every Sunday. Skippy
learned about Jesus rising from the dead. How on earth…?

Skippy wasn’t trying to be rude. He just didn’t like pretending
once he knew how things worked. So Skippy looked things up.

Skippy found a fact. Only about 30% of the people in the world were Christian.
The other 70% were not. Skippy liked having a fact. Facts felt very grown up.

That Thanksgiving, Skippy’s aunt and uncle visited from another state.
Everyone sat around the table eating turkey. Skippy wanted to sound grown up.

So Skippy asked his aunt, “How on earth can people believe in Jesus?”
His dad almost choked on his turkey. His mom spilled her wine.√

Skippy’s grandmother laughed and said, “Skippy! We do
not talk about religion or politics at the dinner table!”
His grandfather laughed, too. Soon everyone was laughing.

Skippy felt his face get warm. He hadn’t meant to be
funny. He hadn’t meant to make anyone upset, either.

Skippy’s dad stopped laughing and said gently,
“Okay, Skippy… what do you believe in?”

Skippy thought for a moment. He looked at
his family. He looked at the table. He listened.

Then Skippy said, “I believe it’s important to get
good grades. And I believe in love… and our family.”

Nobody laughed this time. Everyone smiled. Skippy smiled, too.

That felt like something worth believing in.

#ChildrensBooks #CriticalThinking #SkepticalKids #GrowingUp #FamilyValues
#ChildDevelopment #ParentingStories #QuestionEverything

TAGS: children’s literature, skepticism for kids, critical thinking, magical thinking, family stories, believing in love,
questioning beliefs, growing up, childhood development, parenting, secular families, thoughtful children