With my 8 year old son, i have adopted a non interference attitude in his beliefs. I wanted him to make up his own mind up on sensitive subjects as he grew older without any influences from me. In my idealistic way, i hope he will then grow up to be an adult, who can know his own thoughts and make is own decisions on what is right and wrong without being led by others.

So the other day he came back from school and declared that he was a believer in Christianity and that non believers in God would go to hell. A bit extreme in my view, but it did not bother me. I did not say any differently and just suggested that he try and look at other ways of thinking which may be just as applicable.

Feeling all good about myself that i was trying to take the high road, it all slapped me in the face a couple of weeks ago when he came back and declared himself a Chelsea football club supporter. As a life long Liverpool fan, this has not pleased me.

In his closet are now stacks of Chelsea shirts and every time i see them (like today) and imagine the future fights in front of the TV in weekends to come, i seriously reconsider my non interference plan.