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
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:47pm

You do not get a notification. You only will be able to find out when you look for their name under your friends.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:48pm
LOL! this sounds exactly like my oldest.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:48pm

So you follow all the rules? Never have rebelled? Oh...fun...

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:49pm

But you can monitor your child's page and if you see another child saying and doing things you don't approve you, you can have your child de-friend them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:50pm

So does my dd. She rarely has to de-friend people.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:52pm

My line is "It's a speed maximum, not a speed minimum."

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:52pm

So why do YOU think my dd is NOT ready for fb?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:53pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:53pm

O.kay...12 yr olds change. They are tweens. lol!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:53pm

shrub?

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