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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Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:01pm
"And it's not possible to safeguard them as a parent without violating the safety and security of other children whose privacy I do NOT have the right to encroach upon." This is the conundrum for me. I can see why parents want to do this, but the idea of it makes me queasy.
Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:06pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:09pm

Do you find these things on the SAME level as having a fb account?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:10pm

Don't think having a fb account underage could cause physical harm or even death.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:10pm

Do you agree?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:12pm

Wouldn't know.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:14pm

It seems you are not that familiar with fb. I never said I "roam" a child's fb page. I do see who is my dd's friends. If there is something going on, on my dd's page, I will follow up and see what is going on. I have NO interest in checking out my dd's 12 and 13 yr. old friends. The ones that are also my friends are only friends because I am friends with their moms and those kids are great and if they did something I would have no problem saying something to the parents. BUT....again, they are like me...they are good parents who watch what their kids are doing.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:15pm

Please tell me you don't think having a fb account underage is on the same LEVEL as underage drinking and possibly driving where someone could get killed???:smileysurprised:

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:18pm
I think you're right, but the conundrum for me personally isn't about finding out whether your own child is drinking or smoking. It's more about what behaviors you want them exposed to and at what age from *other* kids, likely kids your child knows but you don't.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:19pm

1. I don't think you should bury your head in the sand about bullying and other things kids do that is not right and sometimes illegal.

2. I don't hide my kids from good things in the world. I don't intend to hide them from the bad. That is where communication comes in. I don't have ONE talk about things with my kids. All talks will be life long.

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