My son is going through a difficult vegan awakening.
My dear teenaged son went vegetarian last year, and asked me to research some stuff for him, which I did and which caused me to learn things I'd never known and I went vegan very quickly after that...
Well, he's been "mostly vegan" in that he eats the vegan food I make at home, but if at a friend's/his dad's house he eats vegetarian as they usually don't have any idea what to feed him...
Recently he's asked me to give him a list of foods/recipes to take to his dad's house so obviously wants to go further towards veganism, and bless his soul he's evidently thinking about it a lot...
He keeps starting conversations where he'll lament someone not looking after their cat properly, or what dairy cows have to go through, or how non-vegans think, and what they say that is so wrong...
The thing is, I think he's suffering a bit, as he's quite angry and seems to be grieving the realities of what is done to animals on a daily basis, yet he's also still a bit young to feel confident if it comes up for conversation or when looking for food options etc... I try to support him and as my own induction to the fold was SOOOOO intense, plus I have the benefit of age and experience especially in regard to relationships, I am hopefully doing a reasonable job, but I just feel a bit sorry for him...
Having said that, I also feel proud. He's a wonderful young man, but I'm not sure whether there's anything else I can do to support him, as I have of course got a biased view but equally I don't want to give him any sort of impression my love is conditional upon him ceasing use of dairy/eggs...
What do you all think?
Re: My son is going through a vegan awakening.
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Peabrain
What do you all think?
I think he's going have to learn that all minds are not equal PB.
Re: My son is going through a vegan awakening.
Maybe if he hasn't already he would enjoy getting involved with a veg/animal youth group with people facing similar issues? This might be a possible starting point http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/YOUTH/veggie/ALL/// it seems to accept that not everyone is vegan.
Re: My son is going through a vegan awakening.
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Blueberries
Most teenage boys can barely see past their game consoles!
Hehe.. He's going to college in Sept, to do video game development! He's a funny lad, and a TOTAL games geek (which he's quite proud about)!
Quote:
Cupid Stunt
I think he's going have to learn that all minds are not equal PB.
LOL... He's already worked that one out - he even realises that some adults aren't even as enlightened as him (plus I think he secretly thinks he's cleverer than the average joe - and I suspect he may well be right)...
Quote:
harpy
Maybe if he hasn't already he would enjoy getting involved with a veg/animal youth group with people facing similar issues?
Sounds like an idea... I've also steered him to the vegan bodybuilding site (esp. as he is presently on a plan to do some fitness stuff)...
Basically I've been sharing with him about the practicalities (where to get the food/toiletries etc, checking ingredients - which he's getting quite good at, and the like), but also vegan and non-vegan relationships and how to talk to people or when to bow out (if someone's being a w**ker), and he's very witty (as CS has seen in the "comebacks" thread)... He he he...
I guess I just sympathise with his disappointment in humanity, it's understandable, but he's a young'un so I guess I feel more protective. It's like you once said to me Cupid, the red/blue pill in "The Matrix" - he's chosen the right one, but it's not an easy choice eh?
