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August 2011 Moms
Am I crazy? Parenting (but NBR)
Ok... this is NOT meant to start any debates, so let's keep this clean. I just want to get some other opinions on this & see if I'm crazy or have unrealistic expectations.
I was recently on a women's weekend with some ladies from church & some of the 'tween age daughters. In random dinner discussion, gay marriage came up, and one of the ladies told me that 'my neighbor' didn't know what that meant. I was completely baffled until I realized that she was telling me her 13 yr old daughter sitting next to me (who goes to public school) didn't know what gay marriage was- and she wanted to keep it that way.
Now, I understand her maybe not wanting to discuss it in front of her (although we all had similar views on it), but isn't it weird that a 13 year old doesn't even know what it is?? In understand wanting to keep them young, innocent, and out of nasty debates, but that's a pretty big current event IMHO... and one that your kid should be educated on regardless of viewpoint- especially when they're likely to run into it at school sometime soon! My family is quite conservative, but my parents ALWAYS made us as aware & informed as possible on things like that.
Am I crazy? Or is that kind of sheltering more common than I realize?
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Re: Am I crazy? Parenting (but NBR)
That's why I'm so baffled- public school!! I understand that some people want to shelter their kids from stuff like that for as long as possible, but I'd sure want to talk to my kid about it first before they come home saying who knows what...
www.cozylittlecave.com
I don't think you are crazy. I am confused too. I plan on raising my children with open-minded views. Basically she is trying to say that she doesn't want her child aware of things that she doesn't agree with? I can understand not giving details on certain news events that a young child wouldn't fully grasp, but this isn't such a situation.
Hopefully that child is able to have establish her own opinions/beliefs in life.
Love & luck to my 3TC girls. Congrats to Omega-The boys are here!
If there's one thing I've learned while waiting my turn,
it's that in each life some rain falls but you also get some sun.
After 2 years & 2 losses, our little man arrived 8-2011.
I'm w/ you, Cozy! However, I'm willing to bet this girl knows more than her mother thinks she does! I bet the mother also thinks the girl doesn't know anything about s-e-x either!
You're definitely not crazy Cozy! That is pretty sheltered (unless the daughter is REALLY good at hiding things and if that's the case, she's probably hiding more). My mom is conservative too, but I have a very open mind and plan on being open-minded with my children. I always found it difficult to talk to my mom about certain things and I don't want my kids to feel that way.
I have seen too many "kids" grow up sheltered and then over-do it when they get a chance to be on their own. Wanting to keep innocence is one thing, but to set shelter young adults from the world is another.
I totally agree. There is absolutely no way a 13 year old, in public schools, doesn't know about being gay! The mother might be in denial? Thinking it isn't an issue if they don't talk about it?
There were a lot of "things" I knew (or thought I knew) at a young age - that's what the lunchroom was for right? lol
If she is 13 and in public school than knowing about gay marriage is quite harmless compared to some of the stuff that a kid that age is exposed to in public school.
Nope, you are not crazy. I think that is ridiculous. I also find it ridiculous because I sit on the far left side of the political spectrum but that is just me. I'll just leave it at that
I'm sure that 13-year-old girl knows exactly what it is, but her mom is just trying to think that she doesn't. In fact, if that mother knew what goes on in schools these days, learning about gay marriage would be the least of her concerns. I think that kind of sheltering usually backfires, so no, I don't think your reaction is crazy at all.
13 and in public school, they know...heck my daughter is in catholic school and in 3rd grade and she knows of it.
kids are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for....or want to give them credit for I guess. Maybe mom is just in denial and wants to think the child doesnt know but my gut is telling me the child knows
Ok... thank goodness I'm not crazy. I was just so baffled by the whole situation I didn't know what to think of it!!
My whole family is pretty conservative, but my parents were ALWAYS so open with us- about everything. And it was to the point that it would embarrass some of my friends, but I was always well-educated about everything, my parents never forced any beliefs on me, and I can talk to them about anything. Coming from that, I just can't fathom not talking to your children about something like that at this point in life & school!
My mom used to tell us how her 'sex ed' was her mother giving her a copy of "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were too Afraid to Ask" and that was it. She NEVER wanted us to feel like we couldn't talk openly to them about anything.
www.cozylittlecave.com
My kid is 2 and he knows what gay marriage is.
I make it a point to expose him to all families. One of his favorite books is called "Mommy and Mama."
I love this! Our 4-year-old knows that families come in all different shapes, sizes, and sexes - and all are acceptable and embraced in our family. I can't imagine not equipping a 13-year-old with basic knowledge like this - even if they don't agree with it. What a strange choice.
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