I’m a bit shocked by what you’ve written because I don’t like the thought of people scrutinizing me and judging me. (Of course you keep kosher if you’re vegetarian- or am I missing something? They have supplies of paper and pencils for the children at my shul, in a side room where they can still hear the services.)

I’ve been told to bring my children half way through the service- otherwise it’s too long for them.
I thought that synagogue services were characterized by people walking around and greeting their friends, and that children could do that too?

I’m really new to attending shul. I’m still at that honeymoon stage of just being so glad that I’m there, part of the community.

Fitting in….first they welcome you with open arms, and then just when you finally let down all your walls and feel safe, someone swoops in and says, “You’re otta here.” No warning, no explanation, just “don’t let the door hit you on the behind on your way out.”

After this happening soooooooooooo many times, I’ve learned not to bother “joining” a group. As soon as my Aspieness becomes apparent, I’ll be asked to leave in one form or another. If you’re young, you keep trying thinking this time will be different. It never is….

It’s not synagogues, or churches, or temples, it’s groups, lightly organized, highly organized doesn’t matter.

In the end, I decided that G-d, to use your phraseology, is best dealt with at a personal level. I try to give my children a good grounding in morality and an awareness of various beliefs. Their school gives them all the remaining religion they need and when they’re older, I’ll be encouraging them to go out and find out what they believe in on their own terms.