Holiday FUMBLE!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Need some input from my Jewish friends out there! Yikes! Accidentally slipped and wished my Jewish family a "merry christmas". Dad looked pretty miffed. Have I offended him? We made sure we included Hanakkah in our Holiday theme this month. I think he's mad. Oh no I feel awful.

[mismatchedsocks]

Wondering this also. Jewish family here got me some gifts, and said merry christmas to me. BUT I have gift for her child, not sure if child should open here, or if I should say its Hanukkah gift??

I dont see how he can be miffed, its not like he sent to a Jewish daycare.

[Heidi]

personally, I believe that if someone from another religion blesses me in a way that's meaningful to them, I would take it as a gift, not an insult. I don't know your dc dad, so I don't know how he felt.

If he's annoyed, he'll go home and complain to spouse, who will probably remind him of the nice things you did for Chanuka???

[melissa ann]

I'm sure you are not the first person to wish him a Merry Christmas. You didn't mean it to insult him or anything. It's the Christmas season and many of us say Merry Christmas. I'm sure there are people who said worse to him::

[AmyLeigh]

I don't celebrate Christmas, but I am never offended when someone extends a holiday greeting. It is viewed as polite as "Have a nice day."
You can apologize to dcd, remind him that it is something you say to everyone this time of year and it slipped because of habit. Acknowledge his holiday, such as asking what are his holiday plans, so forth. Beyond that, his feelings are in his control.

[AmyLeigh]

Wondering this also. Jewish family here got me some gifts, and said merry christmas to me. BUT I have gift for her child, not sure if child should open here, or if I should say its Hanukkah gift??

I dont see how he can be miffed, its not like he sent to a Jewish daycare.

Ask the parents how they would prefer it to be handled. That would clear up any confusion.
We talk about how important open communication is in this business, right?

[MarinaVanessa]

This is one of the reasons why I make it a habit to say Happy Holidays instead . If it bothers you that much why not just give him or DCM a call (if you feel more comfortable talking to her) and explain that it was a slip up and really didn't mean it. I'd feel like a goof too if I did that but I'm sure your DCD will understand.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I texted him "oops sorry, meant to say Hanakkah, my apologies". Got no reply. . He's a super guy, but I bet he gets sick of it this time of year.

[Former Teacher]

I dont see how he can be miffed, its not like he sent to a Jewish daycare.

I agree.

At my former center there was a Jehovah Witness family who wanted special considerations esp around the holidays. The mother didn't want her son to be in my classroom while we said the Pledge of Allegiance (because of under God, but that changed quickly because the boy was a bully and we were not going to put him in another room), didn't want me to do Christmas crafts when he was there etc etc. She wanted nothing said about God whatsoever.

Anyway, one day we were outside and this mother was in the process of dropping of the boy. She was sitting on bench saying bye to him. I had my back turned to another child and I hear a sneeze. I said oh God bless you! I turned at that moment and realized it was the boy that sneezed. The mother just glared at me. I said opps sorry. I walked away. The mother never said anything to me but I was embarrassed. It's not like I did it to be mean...just a force of habit.

Some people need to grow up.

[MarinaVanessa]

I agree.

At my former center there was a Jehovah Witness family who wanted special considerations esp around the holidays. The mother didn't want her son to be in my classroom while we said the Pledge of Allegiance (because of under God, but that changed quickly because the boy was a bully and we were not going to put him in another room), didn't want me to do Christmas crafts when he was there etc etc. She wanted nothing said about God whatsoever.

Anyway, one day we were outside and this mother was in the process of dropping of the boy. She was sitting on bench saying bye to him. I had my back turned to another child and I hear a sneeze. I said oh God bless you! I turned at that moment and realized it was the boy that sneezed. The mother just glared at me. I said opps sorry. I walked away. The mother never said anything to me but I was embarrassed. It's not like I did it to be mean...just a force of habit.

Some people need to grow up.

This lady was just a B&%$# then because I have several friends that are Jehovah's Witnesses and have even studied with them and they have all always said "God bless you" when someone sneezed. They also have never objected to their kids saying the pledge of allegiance, doing holiday crafts etc.

I also had a client once that was JW and even they didn't mind my crafts or coloring pages etc that had to do with Jesus, they did however request that I not give their child a Christmas present so I didn't. I did ask them if it was okay for me to give him an early gift just to show how special he was to me and they were fine with it as long as I didn't call it a Christmas gift.

I've never heard of a JW not wanting anyone to talk about God or Jesus, if anything all my friends ever do IS talk about God and Jesus . I do know that they don't like talking about saints and don't celebrate birthdays and have a thing against crucafixes, and none will allow their child to participate in sex ed. but nothing like what you described. That lady is cookoo ::.

[awestbrook713]

I have a family where dad is a jehovahs witness and I almost said Merry Christmas to him but bit my tongue. He is a super nice guy and doubt he would have taken offence but I still would have been embarassed. If they don't want there kids subjected to things they don't believe in or celebrate then they need to go else where.

[Sugar Magnolia]

.... If they don't want there kids subjected to things they don't believe in or celebrate then they need to go else where.

Oh, no, not at all. They are SUPER tolerant and not at all worried about us "subjecting" their boy to anything. They don't mind our "holiday" crafts and stuff. Super nice, wonderful family. We're a totally secular preschool anyways. I'M the one who is worried I offended HIM. He's my favorite dad, really nice guy. I'm bummed I said something that may have seemed, I dunno, thoughtless or disrespectful. Or worse yet, snarky, because I DIDN'T mean to, it was just a slip. I'm mortified.

[daycare]

I would not worry about it.... I don't announce this much, but I don't belive in the same god as most of you do. I will even often wear a sari and people will always tell me Have a Merry Christmas etc. I look at it with great thanks, knowing that they are just sending me holiday wishes.

Sometimes people just don't know what to say right away and saying Merry Christmas is a nice habit we have around the holidays...

I would not get worked up over it.... I am sure he realizes this....

[Sugar Magnolia]

Thanks soooo much Daycare! thank you thank you!!!!!!

[daycare]

Thanks soooo much Daycare! thank you thank you!!!!!!

of course!!!! however you are very sweet for even to be worried about it!!

Relax and start your christmas break!!!! I only have one kid tomorrow until noon, so I am already celebrating by baking tons of breads and cookies!! that i wont eat..