Good Grief - Animal Rights Activist in the making

My son has just told me that he now wants to be a vegan.

Just this minute.

Last night, and for the past few weeks, he has been hotly defending his choice not to eat meat.

He has been EXTREMELY animated about it (no pun intended).

We have always been supportive of his vegetarianism. He was never a meat eater even as a toddler, just didn't like it. But NOW he has really strong views.

Now, without any prejudice at all, last night he instigated a really adult conversation with us in the car about how The Eskimo/Inuit Huskies (or whatever they are... am not up on animal names or anything-sorry) get shot after only a few years, because they start to get slow pulling a sled.

He was very angry about this. saying why couldn't they "keep them as pets" etc, or "they could move to Greece and let them have the freedom that they deserve". These are actual quotes from that conversation. Why Greece? I have NO idea, but that's what he said. He said "how would you like it if you got a little bit slow at driving and I just shot you." I am telling you now, that he has NOT been talking to anyone either. He is home educated, and with me 24/7 practically! He just works this stuff out for himself.

We always try and put across a balanced view (not easy when your husband and his mate just had a Horse Steak with all the trimmings whilst in Slovenia!) of how he has a point, but then so do the Inuit/Eskimo's etc and Vegetarians/Vegans respect meat eaters, and meat eaters respect Vegans/vegetarians and so on and so forth... You know what I am saying?

This is a well complex issue and to be PREFECT LY HONEST, I don't really have any idea about why someone would choose TO eat meat, or NOT to. I eat what I fancy, as I always have. So have all my family, and I do love animals. I have never really thought of it as a conscious decision or anything.

But DS has a PASSION for animals. He really loves them. So I asked him what Vegan meant, and he said "I never want to eat or have anything to do with animals in my body again". The fact that he even knows, at 8 years old, what a vegan is and what it means says something I guess.

Anyway, any ideas people? I don't know what to do with my extreme son! I love the way he feels able to express himself, and I want to support him, but I am the chief cook and bottle washer here. GULP! Is it Safe for a kid of 8 to be Vegan?? WOW? I dunno?

I guess we can see how it goes, and just let him make his own choices. He loves ice cream.... lets see what that means hey?

But seriously, any ideas from people who have gone through similar would be extremely welcome.