Very nice interview. Although I grew up in the same community as you, I have never heard of these egg rolls. perhaps wee shall have to get some while in Chicago for BlogHer...

Also, the Muppet you mention is Sam the Eagle. Husband and I worship the wit and wisdom of the Muppets. I really love Waldorf and Statler. I hate Miss Piggy, though.

 

What great responses! I had a lot of fun thinking up questions for you. I do have some thoughts about the UU question/response.

My Catholic-raised husband struggles at times that our kids are not getting "enough religion".

There is an explore other faiths section of UU Religious Education in which middle schoolers visit different religious services. Amoung the services I went to in the early 1980's were Jewish Friday evening services (I loved it), Church of Latter-Day Saint Sunday service and lessons (that was not a pleasant experience since the girls had their lessons in, yes, the kitchen while the boys went to a posh library) and a Quaker hour (in which we sat in silence for nearly 50 minutes until a woman got up and told a story about marbles). I know the youth of our church have visited an Islamic center in years past.

I will readily admit that I cannot cite scripture and do not pray to a god. But I do believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people regardless of their faith, creed or lack there of. That is what I hope for my kids.

 

mmm... egg rolls at the lake sounds divine!
I am fully intrigued by the UU response (yours as well as SMID's comment) We are currently "without" religion; both of us coming from the same very conservative, very limiting (on so many levels) religious background. We are just finding our feet being on our own right now. But I have been pondering this question a lot for the kids religious education sake. While I do not want them to be encumbered with the same guilt and issues I am now trying to shed, I do want for them to have some knowledge about the greater questions and some passion for something as they grow. For all it's baggage, religion has given me a something to hold onto at various times in my life. Since they have family on both sides deeply imbedded in the traditions of the religion, I know they will be exposed to that. But I am also wondering the best way to explore and expose them to more, and like you said without giving them the impression that an open-minded approach means not picking something and feeling passionate about belief. Great power comes from passion. I just don't want them to end up picking the family religion... that will be hard to bear. I could go on forever, but this is a response NOT a post of my own.
Thanks for giving me a place to get it off my chest. You have given me loads to think about today.