Teaching tolerance to our kids

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2010
Teaching tolerance to our kids
1822
Mon, 12-27-2010 - 4:06pm

The discussion in the other thread about gay marriage (OK, it wasn’t so much a discussion as an attack on granitestategal, plus the last time I checked it had devolved into mumbling and maniacal laughter...time to move on!) got me to thinking about this new generation of kids and how things have changed for them. Technology has exploded, and kids are more connected than ever before. They’re also disconnected in a whole new way, but this thread isn’t about that. I’d like to know what we are teaching our kids as far as tolerance for other religions, races and lifestyles.

My parents were brought up by parents who were extremely prejudiced against non-Catholics and non-whites. My great-grandparents must not have passed along the lessons they’d learned as immigrants themselves. The town we lived in was predominantly white and Catholic, and up until high school I didn’t know anyone who was black, Jewish, Hispanic, or gay*. When I moved away from home, I was blown away by how different people outside my little world really were, and fascinated by it. I was, and am, determined to raise my kids to respect and appreciate the differences of others and to understand that deep down we really aren’t that different.

A few years ago when DS was 4, we ran into the husband of a co-worker at a music festival. My co-worker is also male. I probably went overboard in my introduction, but I wanted to get the point across that it’s perfectly OK for some families to consist of 2 dads or 2 moms, or one parent, or parents of different races/religions.

Kevali


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:34pm
I admit, that is exactly why I had a heavy hand in the beginning with my oldest, but he wanted a facebook and was willing to agree to me monitoring his facebook and rules that we are friends.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:34pm

Please don't start..............

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:36pm

Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:37pm

I can see how it would not necessarily be creepy, but at the same time, I think there is definite potential for abuse and unwarranted privacy invasion there. Either way, I don't really like the idea a while lot.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:37pm
Most parents that I know monitor their children's facebook accounts, in a variety of ways.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:38pm
LOL~ what a hoot!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:39pm
It is not just like I do, I don't have an underage child on facebook, we don't have bullies on his facebook and I don't have underage children posting things about drugs, drinking and so forth.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:39pm

What is a hoot is that some people deny things that have been posted before by themselves. lol!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:40pm
But isn't that what egd calls...playing God?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:41pm

I was speaking the way you monitor your child's fb account.

Again, none of these things (except bullying) were from my dd's friends.

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