Gaps, patches and in-betweens

Last week, my daughter’s classmates were practicing their Holy Communion. Thinking that it was just another school activity, my daughter told my mom, a devout Catholic, who then relayed to me the requirements that they have to buy: white dress, shoes and stockings. I pondered long and hard. How do you not break a mother’s heart while admitting that the religion she is so devoted to has ceased to apply to you, and which you are giving your daughter a choice to decide on. Then I pondered on another difficult thing. How do I tell my daughter that she has no religion. That she is not baptized. And why. So first things first. I had to talk to my daughter. I drew her outside, where we can talk without my mom overhearing us. Conversation went like this: ME: Sweetheart, you cannot join the Holy Communion because it is a ritual for Catholic people. You are not Catholic. ILAW: Why not? ME: Because there are a lot of other religions and we want you to choose what you want when the time comes that...