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 - 3:54pm

You NEVER go OVER the speed limit? If it is 30, you ONLY go 30? lol!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:55pm

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:55pm
Sure, but you can't monitor the pages your child sees, so you can't know everything that's going on. There may be nothing inappropriate going on on your child's page, but inappropriate stuff could be happening on another page your child has access to. The inappropriate stuff might not even be posted by your child's friend--it could be another kid who's posting on the friend's page.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:55pm

Oh my....so you DO lie? Gotcha.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:56pm

I would also add, that I alsway obey the speed limit around here. At least, after I was pulled over for going 29 in a 25.

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:57pm
I'm sure you're right. I was on my way to pick up the other mom who was going on the camp out with us, and when I told her this story, she burst out laughing and told me that her dd had done the exact same thing.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:57pm

I only started fb 2 years ago. I don't think it was popular before that as I was on myspace then. Your son is 16, right?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:59pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 4:00pm

Bawwahhhaa..I fixed. Just did my nails for tonight :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 4:00pm

I don't read through all the posts before responding. Shrug.

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