How will my child be raised.....

I've been thinking today about my will. Right now if something happens to my spouse or I, my children will be raised by my sister and her husband. I think I should change it, though.

My sister is a great mom. Her kids are very happy and well-adjusted. Except for this one thing. Freakin' religion again. My sis and her DH are very conservative Christian. At times so much that I think she's been brain washed. The girl I grew up with is missing in some ways. In other ways, not at all.

I had a conversation with her the last time she was at my house about her faith. I asked if she really thought that people who weren't Christian automatically go to hell regardless of the way they lived their lives. Her response.. yes. unequivocally. I told her my thoughts on the matter: basically that the way we live our lives is more important than the reasons for living that way. That God doesn't care what your religion is. She said she used to believe that, but her views were challenged by a Baptists preacher and while she didn't agree with him, she did come to believe that Christianity is the only way and it's her job as a Christian to convert others and save them from hell.

Sorry, I flatly refuse to believe that my devote Hindu and Muslim friends are automatically dammed. I think God speaks in many different tongues so many different people can hear the message. Plus, I don't think God's ego is quite so fragile as to require absolute subservience. Why else do we have brains and free-will?

So that brings me back to my will and my kids. It's hard because I love my kids and I know that my did and her husband love them with all their hearts. They'd be well provided for and protected in their household. BUT, I don't like the idea of my kids being taught something that's so NOT what I believe. It goes against so many of my core values. Their kids have the same sort of rigid thinking that they do. Of course all kids do to some point, but I want my kids to know that it's OK to question. It's OK to have different opinions. It's OK to express them. In fact you should express them in the best, more respectful way that you can. Dialog is so important.

So I think I'm changing my will. Luckily, I also have this great brother. He's a great dad and uncle. He and his wife also have 4 kids. So if, God forbid, they have to add my 2 to the mix Oy! what a noisy, chaotic house. Who knows, could be fun.