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 - 5:40pm
I am on FB, so yes, I was already aware that you can see what is on someone's wall without going to their page. However, I have learned something new from this thread: parents can use kids logins to read other kids' walls. I hadn't thought about that. I am surprised that you see pictures and posts from underage kids on your own wall. Who are these kids? If my 12-yr-old's friends were drinking, smoking, or doing drugs, I'd be very worried.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:44pm
I have no idea what you mean.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:46pm
I think it's pretty clear. However, there are several much more savvy FB users involved in this discussion who understand it the same way I do.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:48pm
But it's not private when people can log in as their kids and read kids' walls they're not friended to.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 5:52pm
It seems to me in her area there are a lot of bullys and young kids who drink and do drugs.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 6:02pm
That's what I don't get. Who are these underage kids whose inappropriate posts she's seeing on her wall? Are they friends of her 12-yr-old? Family members?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 6:07pm

Well if she is reading them on her wall

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 6:41pm
If my 18 year old posted about smoking and drinking on Facebook, I'd be a lot more concerned with the total lack of common sense to post about illegal activities on a quasi-public forum where everyone from Grandma to potentially future employers can see it than I would be about the actual drinking and smoking.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 6:45pm

I never said that.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 6:47pm

1. I can go on my dh's wall with his password too. So?

2. I was NOT talking about 12 yr. olds, again as I have stated this before. My friends on fb are kids (under the age of 21, 14 +) who are family and friends of family and friends children.

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