"Devil" Mascot in Yourkid School

Would he rather send him to a highschool for gifted kids with a unicorn as a mascot? One with a very good reputation for higher level education? Who cares what the mascot is.

Stop involving his mother, he needs to also cut the apron strings. He's still letting mommy run his life. He is married now, you are his life.

A devil or dragon mascot would not bother me in the least. I think you should not worry about it or even think about it - it's just a school mascot. There are more important things in life to worry over.

I think this attitude is all rather odd. Its a mascot, if someone is worshiping a mascot you have more serious issues than what the mascot is. After all it is just a goofy character that messes around at games trying to get people to cheer.

So far as the dragon goes my ex went to a Catholic high school who's mascot is the dragon. I don't think Christians have issues with dragons. Just because they were used in a book that some Christians think is evil doesn't make the dragon by proxy evil as well.

I really am trying to be nice about this because you are such a nice person but it is just not rational. It is a mascot. You need to start thinking for yourself. Do you think it is rational to pass an education or career over just because of the stupid, and fake, school mascot?

This is concerning for you? A mascot? who worships a mascot? if the school is what you want and you like it, um, then send her. Its what you do after school activities that the problem, I doubt your daughter is going to go astray from god, with a red devil or dragon mascot. I am sure its concerning to you. As someone who has no affiliation to a structured religion its inconceivable that , this is a criteria when picking schools.

I cannot believe anyone would have an issue with a freaking devil or dragon school mascot. I'm sorry, but I think that's just completely ignorant. Your MIL is not clever or smart, she's an idiot. Aren't you grown ups? Tell them to get over it! Better yet, tell her to pray about it if she's so concerned.

I would talk to your hubby about setting boundaries with his parents. The influence you two allow them to have seems extreme. I would decide as parents/heads of the household what values you want as a family and stick to your guns. You can consider advice from others, like MIL, but at the end of the day it is up to you two to dictate how your family rolls.

You are seriously concerned about a dragon mascot? What are you planning to do when your son studies mythology in school? The dragon is a very important symbol in folk tales in many many cultures. There were dragons in European, Korean, Japanese and Chinese cultures (probably more). There is a theory that tales of giants and dragons were an explanation by ancient peoples who found fossilized bones of dinosaurs. Why do you care if your MIL finds out what the school mascot is? My high school mascot was a griffon. I can't remember anyone being too concerned about it.

i don't think your MIL is clever, i think she is conniving and controlling.

it's none of her business except that you and your husband are letting her control your life.

it's time to stand on your own two feet. unless you are teenagers depending on this woman to support you, it is YOUR choice and you need to be adult about it and you AND your husband need to do what is best for your family, which would be you, him, and your child/ren.

she is entitled to her opinion and she will not take it well that you made your OWN choice, i'm sure. she will have to get over it. the name of the school or the mascot has nothing to do with your personal religious beliefs.

on the other hand if YOU (as in YOU or YOU and HUBBY - not HER) feel strongly that it is wrong then don't go there.

people who are so controlling and anti-everything are usually NOT clever. they are usually terrified of anything that is unknown and threatens their "ideas" of things. there is room for fiction in the world. it's not the anti-christ.

Well, did your husband's parents succeed in keeping him from attending the University with the devil mascot? If not, don't worry. Their bark is much worse than their bite...so you'll hear alot of lip service but that's it. If you like the school and hubby doesn't object, don't worry about it.

The question really boils down to what does hubby think, and if he doesn't like the school, what will be your backup plan as a family? As others have said, don't let the in-laws make decions in your marriage. It isn't their place. However, your husband's feelings do matter, so if HE's the one who doesn't like the mascot, you need to think about how you want to resolve the differences as a couple and most importantly for the good of your son.

Don't allow his parents to unnecessarily complicate things. That means, don't tell them what your plans are. They can't cause trouble if they have no ammunition. If hubby can't see the logic in not involving his parents in his marital decisions, tell him the real devil to keep an eye on is a meddling parent....that can be a brush with real evil no matter the situation. :P You could even joke MIL will be your own family's personal "devil mascot" if he lets her in on your family's plans and she decides to get nasty enough. LOL!

Why are you "so dead" if your MIL finds out your child's school mascot? Will she argue with you to change the child's school JUST over a mascot?

If so, tell her that you and your husband are focused on your child's EDUCATION and what happens in the classroom, and not on something as trivial and meaningless as a cartoon dragon.

If she brings this up again, say every time with a big smile, "Sorry, we already discussed this issue, remember? What matters is the good education that our son gets. That is all that matters, and we're not up for discussing the mascot issue again, not now and not in the future." And stick to that. Walk away from her if you have to and say that the subject is done. If she is so obsessed with this issue she truly needs more to do in her life. If she makes your life miserable over it, it is your husband's job as her son --not your job -- to take her aside and tell her this topic is permanently closed because you as parents, not she, decide on your schools. (And would you actually have canceled your husband's university enrollment because his parents don't like a mascot? He is an adult!)

By the way: One of the country's greatest universities, Duke University, has as its mascot the Duke Blue Devils. Duke is also the home of the Duke Divinity School which has trained many generations of Christian ministers. I have never heard of any of those ministers and pastors yelling that Duke must change its mascot. And Wake Forest University is a strongly Baptist Christian school which also trains ministers, but its mascot is "the Demon Deacons" (a deacon is a kind of minister). Again -- a "devilish" mascot for a CHRISTIAN school. In other words, Christians can have a sense of humor and not get all in a twist about the mere words "devil" or "demon" as if just saying them will conjure up the real deal. If she gets into it, refer her to Duke and Wake Forest and the many ministers coming out of those schools! But seriously - I would not even address this with her and would change the subject instantly EVERY time she brings it up.

I am guessing that there may be a cultural difference here that we are having a hard time appreciating.
I am assuming that your husband goes to ASU, the Sundevils? That term comes from a sundevil or dustdevil, which is a small, tornado-like wind funnel that happens in the desert. The term is not related to an evil entity, just a weather event.
Your MIL may have a very hard time with the mascot at your son's school. As you can tell from the posts here, the general American cultural viewpoint on mascots is that they are a fun little cartoon on a flag, not a deeply meaningful symbol. Perhaps you could try telling your MIL about how mascots are viewed in the US? I am guessing that it would be easier to explain to her that mascots are not important than to try to convince her that the general American perception of dragons is that they are harmless symbols, imaginary, fanciful creatures.

I do understand where you are coming from. It is hard to grow up and do start your own life. But it comes down to one simple statement.

Who is a grown up in your own household??????

You are thinking about not going to college due to the school mascot? I cannot think of any other reason that would be so low on my list of reasons to pick one school over the other.

I think you and hubby do need to decide to grow up and be your own person.

You can read what you want, you can go to school where you have been accepted if you want to, you can choose to send your kids to school where ever you want. It is a choice. You can choose to send them where MIL wants or where you want. It's that simple.

Either be a grown up or be a child.

I think the bigger issue is not the mascot. It's whether or not the school will give the student a good education. Many places have NO choice - you go to school A or you homeschool. Period. Why not attend the school but teach your child to uphold your values regardless? You can't put a bag over your son's head and shield him from everything he'll see in the world. You need to teach him to hold the right path. To be in the world but not of it - isn't that how the quote goes?

Stand up for your choice and tell MIL she can pray for you, but you're not changing schools. Don't let MIL run your family. If she has such an issue with the mascot, she's focused on the wrong thing. If your DH doesn't further his education because Mommy doesn't like the mascot he's giving her WAY too much say in a grown man's life.

ETA: You can tell them no, you cannot visit today. You can stand up for your own home. It may not be the most comfortable confrontation but there is no law that says you must allow a MIL inspection every week.

If they ask, you can say, "We are not changing schools. I won't discuss this with you. If you don't change the subject, this conversation is over." She doesn't have any power you don't give her. "I'm enrolling my child in karate. This is not your concern." I'm frankly scratching my head about that one. So the kid shouldn't learn self-control, self-defense, etc? If they come to the US and you don't want a visit and they didn't consult you, then they can get a hotel and take a tour on their own. Just because they come doesn't mean you have to deal with that behavior.

Isn't your MIL on the other side of the planet? This is your and DH's decisions. If your husband doesn't agree, then you need to find a solution together. But who cares what your MIL thinks...

I am a Christian and my faith is VERY important to me, and I have zero problems with a school mascot being a devil, dragon, or any such thing.

Don't hide anything from your nasty mother in law. If she brings anything up, you and your husband need to say "None of your business" and refuse to talk about it. You are giving your husband's parents WAY too much power.

I get frustrated when people who claim to be Christians make up rules that are not Biblical at all. Your husband's parents seem to fall into that category.

Hang in there! Don't let your inlaws control your life!

I am Welsh, and our flag has a picture of a red dragon on it. It is a very ancient flag, and has no devil worship connotations.