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
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:20pm
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What? Let's not go back to Fantasy Island, okay? It is clear, crystal clear in my posts that I said nothing that would generate those questions. I have said over and over and over again that I reviewing my older sons facebook account on a regular basis, so that I know what is going on and what is being said online.

What magician's top hat was that pulled out of? Yikes.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:20pm
Well, then that is a reflection on the person assuming when it is clear that facebook hasn't changed their rules on the subject.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:21pm
My kids give those types of girls a wide, wide path....they aren't friends with them, they don't want the drama and all of that.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:22pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:26pm
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Then what do you call it if not encouraging a child? Allowing?

Not really, I am pretty much of a rule follower type of person, so is my youngest. Very literal and a rule follower.

The problem I see with allowing or encouraging a child to break minor rules or lie to get what they want...then it becomes harder to explain why a child should follow the rules or why they shouldn't lie to get what they want.

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:28pm
I don't know, but one of my concerns about FB is that many kids seem to friend everyone they know at school and outside school. When my teen gets a FB page, I'll monitor it, but I won't be able to monitor what goes on on the other kids' pages, some of which will be kids whose parents I don't know.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:28pm
Yes and yes. I also have a number of people that I have blocked from his facebook account and I routinely check his security settings.

I am very lucky, both boys have a really good group of friends, very little issues to speak of in regards to the problems you have mentioned.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:29pm
Ds1 hides all of my posts, lol.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:29pm
No, they don't receive any kind of notification.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:36pm
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No, I think that since the facebook "rules" state that no one under 13 that means that any child under 13 shouldn't have an account. Those are facebooks rules, not one that I made up. It is untrue for you to say what I think, when I have clearly stated the reverse many times. It is the rules of facebook, they are not my rules.

The only time that I have said a child may not be ready for facebook was a specific example of an underage child, not a general statement.

Again, I don't care if your dd has a facebook account underage....let me say that again. Don't care.

Again, yes I review my son's account on regular basis.

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