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Hard conversations in difficult times

I’ve been curious for some time now about how parents deal with major events in history. I can remember my parents talking to me a little bit about the Challenger disaster and Tiananmen Square. But it wasn’t one of those sit down and really talk through the event, just this is happening, it’s too bad.
9/11, the wars, the financial crisis, this presidential election. Most would agree your kids are growing up in one of the most tumultuous periods in U.S. history. So what are you saying to them about it?
And if you’re not talking to them about it tell us about it and why.

Comments (9)

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debora said:

interesting choice of questions... lets see, I think this will depend on the age of the child. When 9-11 happened my son was 8.. obviously we discussed it, but in very broad strokes. He is now 15 and we have discussed politics, local and national, the stock market, the war etc. As my son aged he has become more involved with the world around him

See no evil said:

Oh my, I don't talk to my kids about stuff like that. Just like the school system shields our kids from ABC stores and other "bad" stuff, I just turn off the news and hope they don't notice there's a national crises going on. That's the best thing to do, right school board?

Karen said:

I think I would discuss the economy in general with my older kids, but I don't think this economic crisis affects them directly. Unless you personally are going through a layoff, a foreclosure, or something like that, which of course you would discuss. My grandmother grew up during the Depression, and she says that even though they knew things weren't just rolling with money, she still was happy with her family. They lived on a farm, had food to eat, had shoes in the winter, and she played all daywith her sisters and cousin. So I look at it the same for my kids. It's my job as the parent to worry about where the money's coming from, how much we can give to church this year, and trying to keep our jobs. They just get to be kids and be happy and play, and trust in the fact that food will be on the table three times a day and we'll be able to get them medicine if we need it.

Ben said:

Liberal education system.

90% of all teachers and professors the educational system are liberal. They teach the kids of america their liberal values. There are hundreds of court cases accross the country where teachers and proffessors have taught their liberal religion in class.

We have national forest that could be harvested to produce clean eneergy in cogeneration plants but the liberal education religion teach 4th graders that cutting a tree down is not natural and there fore we should not harvest timber.

The liberal education system teaches that endangered species are more important than your constitutional rights.

The Liberal indoctrination teaches entittlements and redistibution of wealth aka socialism rather than Free Enterprise that has rights and responsibilities.

Anonymous said:

My children are in High School (in GC) and I think they are both fairly well informed about what is going on in the world. Its quite suprising really. They are more informed than some of my colleagues at work.

I am normally quite critical of our schools system but I am very proud of the way my children question things and I credit GC schools and their teachers for it.

Meisterlehrer said:

Ben:

Ordinarily I would agree with you. Yes, it is true that most teachers in America are liberal. However, I have been teaching in North Carolina almost 15 years and I can honestly say that most public school teachers I've met here are good, right-wing, Baptist believin' Christians. I thank God every day that I don't still live in the Northeast.

Anonymous said:

Now there is a good reason to get the hell otta here!

Anonymous said:

Brian,
We had a very good discussion with our college age child about what was going on, because he is in a class that is studying the stock market.

The high school student is aware of what is going on, but too busy to think about it much.

Other than car pooling and staying at friends homes instead of going somewhere that would cost money..he is not worrying about it.

We own the car and house. We hunt, raise our own vegetables, cut wood for heat, and have our own well...so we are not too worried about our family this winter. We are thinking about purchasing a second freezer and putting away more meat this year to give to others..

J. Brian Ewing said:

Ben,

I'm not sure I understand how it relates? Are you saying parents need to talk to their children about these issues because liberal teachers will give them their bent?

Karen and Debora,

How have you seen these events impact your children's perspectives on the world and those of thier friends as compared to your perspectives at their age?

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