In my house my daughter wanted to light because she would have been the only one who wasn’t. Now that she is older, I think she feels funny lighting because many of her friends don’t, but that is what our Rav paskened and that works for us.
yenta – Sometimes I, too, think Chanuka has been trivialized (it’s become the holiday of toys) but I try hard to make sure the candle lighting isn’t. Think about the fact that your mitzvah of lighting is to publicize the mitzvah and any secular Jew who passes by your house may be taken in by the beautiful lights of your menorah. Even if he has a momentary wish for a better connection, it is still in your zchus. And that isn’t such a farfetched possibility.
yitay – HI!!!!