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 - 7:07pm
I hope all of his friends are aware that you log in as your dh and check his FB. Your 12-yr-old seeing stuff on your wall.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:07pm

I am not understanding your WOW. Can you please explain?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:08pm

Employers and schools DO check fb accounts now.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:10pm

Nope, like I said, I kept an eye on it. It stopped and my dd goes to school with the 2 girls and she said after that they were friends. I DID continue to ask my dd if she saw anything else going on with them and she said no.

IF, there was continuation (as I stated before, I would have reported it to fb AND the school).

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:11pm

Again, I said NO it does not bother me. BECAUSE...I keep an eye on her account and what is being said and done on it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:13pm

Oh my.....as I said before most of my dh's friends are MINE too. The ones who are not are people he used to work with, old neighbors and family friends.

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:16pm
No, I wasn't talking about older kids. Of course I would care if my kids were drinking or smoking, but they're 13 and 11. My concern about FB at these ages is more about not wanting them exposed to the online behaviors you claim are prevalent there.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:17pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:18pm

So you don't think they are exposed to these things OUTSIDE of fb?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 7:19pm

ITA with you. THAT was weird. I can see him looking for a fb account but not talking about anything he saw on it UNLESS it was something against the rules of the company.

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