Fasting

[Natasha]

That is what I have always heard too, Nicholas. I know there is a great concern from the Church for the health of a growing child.

[Tessa]

My priest says to start small and all kids are different so ther is no AGE. My kids like I said are getting started and fast Wed and Fri pretty strict throughout the year, and more and more frequently during this Great Lent. However this is mainly when I cook. If they say for instance go to a family member's house, most of whom are cradle Orthodox and DO NOT
fast, the kids don't fast either. It's usually the example of whoever is the primary caregiver I think they follow. The way I look about it from a health standpoint is this-there are entire cultures of pefectly healthy people who are COMPLETELY vegan, even the kids (Hindus for one). American people freak out if you have your kids fast, and I think it's completely unfounded reasoning. Americans are child worshippers so sometimes it's better just to keep your mouth shut about parenting practices. I learned that the hard way, LOL. Another example I can sight is my dad and his two brothers, that began fasting STRICT from about the age of 7 (my grandpa was a priest) and are all three huge, my dad is 5'11'' and uncles 6'2'' and 6'4''. No growth stunting with them either.
With your wife's condition though don't worry about the food. It's probably too hard to make food separate for a three year old when she's cooking regualr for herself. Unplug the TV and fast from material things, let food come later.
In Christ
Tessa

[Protopriest Dionysi]

From what I have heard, you want them to start them fasting by the time that they are old enough to confess, but before then have them do what they can in baby steps. But as to what specifically, this would be a question for your spiritual father.

I have five children and would agree with Nicholas. Once one can start talking with them, it would be good to start having them fast with us. My son who is four, may not fully understand why we fast (though we keep telling him), but does fast, and is aware of days and times of the year we do fast.

In Christ,
Priest Dionysi

[Tessa]

Well here's the announcement. I am expecting. We weren't expecting to BE expecting, but hey- that's the way it goes. I wanted to announce this on the prayer section for everyone to pray for us and God to provide, but I have more of a question on praxis so I am posting here.

Anyway I notified "a" priest, with the intention maybe getting some kind of relaxed fasting rule. I usually wouldn't try to have an exception made on my behalf, as I try to "be tough", but I feel LOUSY in my first trimester, like I always do, with lots of naseau and fatigue. Working, travelling, and raising two toddlers only adds to my seemingly constant tiredness, and I feel just like I did when I tried to fast too strictly while nursing my son (we both ended up with anemia).

This priest basically told me relax the fast with fish and oil, but told me to stay away from meat and cheese and "to drink calcium fortified orange juice". All day Saturday I continued to feel AWFUL and WEAK, and at the insisting of my husband (and my gut feeling) Sunday I disobeyed the advice of this Father and broke the fast and had some beef stew. Call it placebo, but today I worked and I feel much better and much more healthy-rejuvinated. I will still keep the fasts on Wednesday and Friday and Holy Week but I really feel like I should be try trying to nourish my unborn child to the best of my ability, especially after what happened with my son.

What would be your advice to me-from both the Fathers and your own personal experience.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

IN Christ
Tessa

[Daisy]

I think the advice changes from Priest to Priest. I got very very down quite quickly in the first few weeks of Lent. I am currently at college living in catered accomodation so the food isn't great at the best of times. I've also had a pretty nasty term in that a lot of my friends have had some serious personal issues. I phoned up my priest and explained the situation to him as best I could. He said I should stop the fast period until Holy Week.

What I have tried to do (and not done entirely sucessfully) is to keep away from the sweet, sugary stuff and the meat and to have dairy every day if I can. I feel much much better and I am now trying to keep Wed and Friday as strictly as I can and I intend to return to the full fast when I get home

I think given the circumstances you should probably eat properly. Remember fasting is a discipline not a rulebook and should be done to the strength of the one fasting. However, don't leap at it without consulting a priest again, just tell him all your concerns and I am sure he will be understanding.

[Daniel]

A friend of ours was told by her priest to follow the midwife's directions, so pretty much she didn't fast at all.

[Liudmilla]

Dear Tessa;
In you situation I believe the fasting rules are relaxed, and what you have done is pretty much in keeping with everything I have ever heard on the topic. My Kuma is a matushka and she was told by the monk priest at Holy Trinity Monastery that she was NOT to fast....her duty was to unborn child. She kept the every day fasts, but nothing more rigorous than that. If you are ill, then you are affecting your unborn child and that is a sin...no matter how you look at it.

Milla