Hello everyone,
I'm a vegan of about 6 years and have never been happier since.
I'm a 26 year old mum with a very bright healthy little 3.5 year old to whom I have raised with my partner as a vegetarian when out and about (for the sake of being able to participate in social situations) and mainly vegan at home (I only cook vegan food but my amazing partner is vegetarian).
Our little guy has been raised knowing (in simple terms) that when he is old enough, he can choose to eat whatever he likes as long as he knows where it comes from.
He's chosen not to eat meat, tells everyone about his grandparents not eating meat either and tries to convert anyone who will listen (that ensuing talk about influencing not by bullying and force but leading by example and sharing yummy veg food makes for some odd playgroup lunches, "This doesn't have any animals in it!").
Today he wanted to know the ingredients of the biscuit he was eating (yes, he wants ingredient labels read and always asks someone before he eats anything, it's surreal).
I told him flour, custard powder, likely egg, sugar, butter. He stopped eating it and was upset, saying he didn't want to eat animals, at which I tried to explain about eggs. He threw his biscuit in the bin. "I want to be like you Mummy"..
Vegan? Yes, he wants to be vegan, no cow milk he says, no honey. He knows where they come from, he knows no matter what, I'll always love him.
Now you may think what part of me thought, which is, "AWESOME!, but my partner and I are worried what this means for his social future.
I've tried to convince him, "You could be vegetarian, just like Daddy, he doesn't eat meat!", but he knows the difference and knowing him, won't go back on it.
"You might have to miss out on cake at parties and go without sometimes.", didn't sway him either.
This forum seems to be full of lovely young budding vegans and vegetarians, do you have any advice for me as to how I can help him fit in at school later on, even kinder or childcare?
I only went vegan as an adult and copped enough grief about what I chose to put in my body and kids can be so cruel.
It's hard enough with bring-a-plate parties trying to figure out if the fairy bread has gelatine sprinkles, let alone moving on to the butter and bread, eep.
Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilledand so very proud that our little saviour-of-butterflies is passionate about animals, but am scared he'll be subject to exclusion, bullying and the heartbreak of realising that spring roll wasn't vegetarian a little too late (ewwwww).
Any advice on how to get kids through without exclusion?
