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: 10-01-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:19pm

Uh huh....I believe that forrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...............ONE second.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:20pm

Do you need friends THAT badly??

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:21pm
Well no, that is not what I said at all. I haven't said it was okay or not okay for anyone but my children. I have said it is lying for anyone who has a facebook account under the age of 13, really....just read the posts and step out of the fantasy.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:21pm

THIS is how you BERATE her? lol!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:22pm

So will you be BERATING greatfulmomnwife just like you did to me?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:22pm

Where did I EVER say we did that?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:23pm
Again, basic physics, you can't change the laws of physics for a message board debate, lol...but it's amusing none the less.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:23pm

I am sure you are. BAER.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:23pm

No fantasy created. Shrug.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Wed, 12-29-2010 - 12:24pm
Im in the wrong here, i can admit that and will make the appropriate changes to make it right.

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