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 - 5:08pm
<What a contradiction to your previous post.

So then why you said....<<> You really meant it that it was fun to follow all the rules?

<>

You wouldn't have to ask these type of questions if you read the posts, it was stated in a previous post to you. LoL, no wonder I repeat myself so much to you, oh boy....

Again, I mostly follow the rules, I am pretty much a rule follower. Now if you read that statement, it clearly doesn't state that all rules are followed or that a rule was never broken....got it yet?
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:12pm
I don't know; aren't you "hiding" your dd from bullying when you monitor her site and make her de-friend kids who engage in that behavior? I see it as part of my role as a parent to shield my dd from things that are inappropriate. For instance, I don't allow my dd to see movies that are not age-appropriate for her. Most parents I know do the same. I don't think being on FB automatically means a kid will be exposed to underage drinking, drugs, bullying, etc., but you paint a a pretty bad picture of it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:14pm

So a rule follower almost 100% of the time. Gotcha. Sounds like hanging out is a TON of FUN.-lolo!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:15pm
Well....at first I looked at it on a at least a weekly type of basis, now that I know I can trust him and his friends, I still check on a regular basis but not as often. I still "check out" any new friends that he makes on facebook.

If I had or saw the problems that chubs mentioned, I most likely would be much more over zealous about monitoring, I agree.
Avatar for rollmops2009
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:16pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:16pm
I really think it depends on the friends, I don't see that on my sons facebook, but he is very careful about who he friends. For some kids it is a race or a game to see how many friends they can get. We make sure that it is limited to those he knows.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:16pm

Nope, she knows what is going on. She is not going to be the one in the middle and agreeing with the behavior by being a friend to that person.

No, that is just NOT fb that those things happen, obviously. I think it is a shame though that parents let underage kids do thees things. That is why we monitor our child's fb, talk about things and know who they are hanging out with.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:18pm
Good for you, so now you understand how some of us haven't seen the type of behavior that you have mentioned over and over at the beginning of this subject...so you will be tossing out an apology to all of those posters you accused of not knowing what was going on?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:20pm
Well no, I tried REAL explanation, a couple of times....

I tried the I don't care, cause I really don't a couple of times a well.

Nothing seems to be sinking in.

I'm already having a wonderful New Years Eve, thank you!
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:20pm
I'm glad to hear that! I was thinking I'm probably the only one around here who feels that way, especially when I read about 11-yr-olds who are on FB.

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