Teaching tolerance to our kids
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| 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.


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I wouldn't go on ALL the walls unless I saw something on my child's wall to alert me that something was going on.
lol
Well all the "bullies" are NOT on my dd's account. The ones that WERE bullying others were de-friended. My dd does de-friend people here and there. I still DO think there are bullies in m.s. though. My dd is just not friends with all of them on fb. Shrug.
So no REAL explanation? lol!! Got it. Thanks and have a wonderful New Years. Need to go and get ready for my night :)
So you "hide" her from what is going on in the world? I face things and teach my children so they know how to handle it too. My dd is doing very well. Luckily she has not been bullied but she has de-friended kids who are just not nice.
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