Immunization, Rights, Choices and Truth

My children aren’t immunized.   

I know it sounds crazy but we DO have our reasons for choosing this option.  And, contrary to popular belief, it is an option.  I’ve known for a long time that children don’t have to be immunized in order to attend public school but I was still a little worried about the hoops we’d have to jump through when it came time to enroll our kids.  It turned out to be a very large, low to the ground, easy to jump through hoop.  We were provided with a special immunization exemption form.  We could choose a medical exemption, a religious exemption, or a personal exemption.  

Although our objection is based partly on certain religious principles we were unable to use the religious exemption because the Catholic Church doesn’t officially teach that the use of immunizations is wrong – even ones containing stem cells from aborted fetuses as long as an alternative is not available.  We chose the personal exemption and in the space provided for a brief explanation of our objections to immunization I simply wrote that we aren’t convinced of the safety or the effectiveness of immunizations and that we don’t believe that benefits of being immunized outweigh the risks involved.  I also noted that we have a personal moral and religious objection to the use of immunizations which is based on the fact that some of them are produced in a manner that disregards the sanctity of human life. 

I know that the decision concerning whether or not to immunize our children is a personal one.  What’s good for one family, for one child, isn’t necessarily good for another.  We should all have the right to do what we believe is best for our children.  The problem is that we simply aren’t given all the information we need to make good choices.  And we are being led to believe that the law says something that it doesn’t say. Actually, we are being told what it says – but only a portion of what it says.  People deserve to know the truth.  And the truth is that we have MANY more choices in life than we’re being led to believe.  The truth is that we are allowed to think for ourselves!   

It’s Official!

We enrolled Tess, Henry and Gus in school today!  I guess we’re no longer full – fledged homeschoolers.  Why does the thought of that make me sad?  Ethan and Lily will continue to be educated at home, so we haven’t completely lost our homeschooling distinction.  I find some comfort in that.  Old Man says we’re hybrid homeschoolers now.  I think I like that definition. 

As we were leaving the school this morning, the principal (who we really like!) took my aside and said “Now don’t panic, Mom.  I’ll tell you when it’s time to panic.  We’re going to take good care of your babies.  Everything will be fine.”  It’s funny because I was feeling a little nervous inside but I don’t think it showed on the outside.  I guess she just knew that a transition like the one we’re making has to be difficult.  I sure do appreciate her concern.