TIFU by making my child vegetarian.

[u/CompetitionExtreme36]

I have a 6 year old son. We went to a fair a few months ago and there was a display of livestock that the public could pet.

Me, trying to be jolly, told him that he'd be eating them for dinner someday.

My son was shocked and asked me how was that possible. I told him that meat is made by killing animals and cooking them. He then asked me what all the meats were. I told him that it's chicken, beef, steak, sausages, salami and mutton.

Later that night at home, I noticed him seperating his dinner. He removed all the meat pieces from the rice and only ate the rice. My wife asked him what was wrong and he said he doesn't want to eat animals.

Thankfully, he's fine with milk and eggs. However, he continued refusing to eat any meat. A week passed and we went to the doctor. The doctor said that it's probably just a temporary phase and we should feed him vegetarian alternatives for the time being.

We now buy canned beans, lentils, greek yoghurt, olive oil, whey protein, soy nuggets and plant-based patties/sausages. We also order a cheese pizza for him.

It's been a few months now, and I've bought iron and B12 gummies for him. Even my wife and I are starting to go more vegetarian.

TL;DR: We went to a fair and there was a display where the crowd could pet livestock. I told my son he'd eat those animals soon, and he's a full blown vegetarian now.

[u/arnoldrew]

I can’t imagine not being able to explain chickens laying eggs to my 6-year-old and having to lie to them and say they come out of their mouths.

[u/ShallowFry → u/arnoldrew]

When the kid finds out, he is not gonna be happy

[u/Masta-Pasta → u/ShallowFry]

Tbh, if he finds out how the milk industry works he's not gonna be happy either.

[u/Masta-Pasta → u/[deleted]]

"No cows are hurt or killed" idk man, idk. Not that I think the horrors of animal agriculture should be explained to 6 year olds

[u/LowestKey → u/Masta-Pasta]

Kid intuitively understood the horrors of animal agriculture. Took the parents straight lying to his face to trick him into thinking it's a defensible thing for humans to do to other animals.

[u/ShallowFry → u/Masta-Pasta]

Oh shit, yeah you're right. Nice catch

[u/veganvampirebat → u/[deleted]]

No he outright lied. Cows are hurt and killed for the dairy industry. Calves are taken away from their mothers so people can drink their milk and the boys are killed early on.

[u/wishiwasinvegas → u/veganvampirebat]

Beef rancher here, family members are dairy farmers as well...dairy cows are some of the most pampered animals. I'm sure that's not always the case, but often it is.

Babies are taken away, but they aren't humans, they don't exactly feel the same kind of emotions as humans do. Beef cattle mothers will sometimes drop a baby out onto the ground & walk away, no clue they just had a baby. Anthropomorphizing animals is just unnecessary.

And the boys are often steered and sold for beef. I know many kids who get their 4H or FFA boy calves from dairy farmers, as the farmers don't need them, but it's not like they line them up and shoot them firing squad style

I realize cattle industry fear mongering is real, but not everywhere. We aren't all pieces of garbage who abuse animals. Don't give us all a bad name

[u/Open_Ad9959 → u/wishiwasinvegas]

These individuals had their maternal/social instincts either A) traumatized away or B) 'bred' away. Both of these things are cruel and our fault. This doesn't occur naturally, in a widespread manner in a species, as it would be counterproductive to evolution. You cannot find a justification in a state that you caused. There has been studies done on this subject which very clearly showcase the intense social bond herd animals experience (with cows as subjects). Exploitation is abuse. Taking someones right to life is abuse. Every sentient being has bodily autonomy that ought to remain untouched unless anothers is in danger due to it. What we do to other species is unnecessary in places where (super)markets are a thing.

[u/wishiwasinvegas → u/Open_Ad9959]

Lol ok

Depends on the breed, but glad you know so much about... who knows what

[u/Open_Ad9959 → u/wishiwasinvegas]

Applied ethics and consistent morality lol

Btw if you're ever looking to stop exploiting others, there is a charity who helps farmers switch to plant farming practices based on their available resources. Often that means more money as well. The charity is called Viva! Farming and though they are based in the UK, they are likely to still be able to help anyone outside of the UK, if just not as much. https://vivafarming.org.uk/