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: 03-27-2003
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:57pm
How well does he have to know them?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 5:58pm
This is how things go round here too.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 6:01pm

That sure is what it sounds like... in cherubs corner of the world,

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 6:02pm

Yes, with my child sitting right with me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 6:03pm
Creepy....
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 6:03pm

No apologies needed. I did or said anything wrong.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 6:04pm
We don't have a hard/fast rule about that but he has to be able to explain to me how he knows the person. He used to have to ask me every time before he friend requested someone he knew that I didn't know, now after a period of time, I trust him and ask questions about the friends if I don't recognize their name when it appears on my newsfeed.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 6:05pm

OMG so you admit you roam around acting like your child and she watches you do this?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 6:05pm

Must have missed it. Can you show me those posts?

Oh, ok..so quiet NYE for you?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 6:06pm

So you think you would be 100% aware if your dd was smoking, drinking or doing drugs? How?

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