Yet another political question!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Yet another political question!
6
Mon, 11-03-2008 - 7:34pm

I'm curious if there are kids out there in this age group whose politics are widely and vastly differing from their parents?? Anyone have an Alex P. Keaton out there (and by that I don't mean uber-conservative, I simply mean widely differing from their upbringing).

I'm mostly just curious when true and individual political viewpoints begin to form for most kids. I will say that for the most party my kids politics agree with mine and dh's, with our son being more in line with his dad and less with me (I'm more socially liberal than they both are, we are all economically conservative).

My 10 year old dd just nods and agrees, really hasn't seemed to have the depth of understanding and clearly not the wisdom to form her own opinions. My 14 year old does seem to assimilate the information but really his views line up mostly with ours, though his thought processes are sometimes more black/white still, which is just a condition of time and experience I suppose.

OK, now I'm rambling. I guess my main question is whether your 10-14 year olds politics match yours, or have they veered away from your belief system, if so, why do you think that is?

Photobucket
Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 11-03-2008 - 7:45pm

Aly is like both of us, but I'm pretty sure I was much different from my mom. It wasn't talked about in my household, and I was only 10 when she died, but I'm pretty sure she voted the other way as much as I know about her now. My dad was probably the same party as her (and may still be), but he votes more like me now and he did when I was in high school.



iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2008
Mon, 11-03-2008 - 10:44pm
I would say that the boys agree with both my beliefs and dh's. I do try to get them to decide for themselves. I think most kids tend to go with what they hear their parents say.

Sylvia's Siggy

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Tue, 11-04-2008 - 12:39am

Dh has very strong and definite political opinions and is VERY vocal about them. I agree with them but if I didn't, I would have a VERY difficult time expressing my opposing view. He is scary intelligent, a great debater, and not always the most open minded. Tough to win or even have your opinion heard some days. Evan has very strong political opinions but it's mostly an echo of dh. Evan is more fiscally conservative than we are. Funny you should mention Alex P. Keaton because I often refer to Evan as our Alex P. Keaton. Megan is only 8 and really not strong enough to do battle with the two alpha males in the house at this point so I doubt she would express any dissenting opinion. The opinions she has expressed reflect ours and given her personality, I would expect them to remain that way for the foreseeable future.

When I'm alone with the kids I do ask them for details about their politics and I try to make sure they understand that political opinions are just that, opinions - and everyone is entitled to theirs. There is no right or wrong, good or bad - simply different view points and they need to be respected.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-07-2005
Tue, 11-04-2008 - 8:46am

No Alex P Keaton's over here. My two middle schoolers have been discussing the election and the different views in school. They are both supporters of Obama as is DH and I. My youngest doesn't care yet.


My daughter said something that was brilliant. She asked me if God was pleased with people judging others. If a woman marries another woman, God will handle that. Its not our job. I was stunned!! She is very right though. What we do with our lives is OUR business! It is no ones place to tell another what they can and cannot do.


Nov-Queen.gif image by foxymomof3

 

 

Avatar for ang2gals
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 11-04-2008 - 9:08am

I think Rachel's viewpoints are very like us, her parents. DH & I have started spending more time explaining certain issues to her as her social studies class started viewing media ads for the presidential campaign as well as one of her media arts classes. She is just beginning to become interested in some of the important issues rather than mouthing slogans at us. Jamie at age 9.5, is a bit young to voice an opinion but she asks a lot of questions which spurs a lot of discussion.


BTW my mom is a Republican, a holdover from her time as an undergrad student in TX, while my dad is an independent. My bro is a Republican (self employed so not a big surprise) while I am a Democrat, along w/DH. I do find myself becoming more conservative now that I've gotten older....definitely not a liberal Democrat more middle of the road.

Photobucket

Photobucket Photobucket DYK Tag

Photobucket


Community Leader
Registered: 12-16-2003
Tue, 11-04-2008 - 10:47pm
Dh and I met in College Republicans, we are both socially and fiscally conservative.

Ramona  Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!