Comments on: What We Teach Our Kids

By: Dollymama

Dollymama — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 01:47:41 +0000

Wow.

I think that being a snide, finger-pointing, merciless, judgmental jerk is a cancer I’d be giving them.

Can you imagine a world where we pointed and jeered at each other for being fat, biting our fingernails, not having a clean enough house, not eating healthy or exercising enough, being addicted to coffee/sugar/wine/beer?

My hope is that I can raise my six children to care about others in a way that makes a positive difference in the world.

By: Frankie

Frankie — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:19:48 +0000

Wow, powerful right-on post. It is politically correct to “hate” smoking/smokers. It really sickens me. Live and let live, I say.

Over 25% of Americans smoke. Many need to learn proper smoking etiquette, that’s a given. But I will not teach hate. Ever.

Interestingly, on the news today was a report about my state’s current status on a smoking ban in businesses. The report today was that farmers would not be able to smoke in their barns or fields because it is a business. That blew me away.

I think this anti-smoking thing is getting a bit out of hand. I do think *some* smokers out there need to practice more manners, though.

By: JanB

JanB — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 13:24:48 +0000

I don’t think that it’s right to ridicule people, but I do not soft pedal smoking to my kids. I tell them that it is nasty, it will make you sick, it stinks and it is expensive. Their grandmother, who has had five strokes still smokes, even in the same household with their grandfather who has had three heart attacks and quit smoking for his health.

She chain smokes right there with him around. She comes here and smokes in our house, although we have asked her not to. She blew smoke in my 6 year old son’s face when he asked her not to smoke.

Now, maybe she is just a ignorant person and I know a lot of smokers are pretty considerate about not lighting up in another person’s home, but her meanness about her right to smoke has made me a rabid anti-smoke person. And rabid is the right word for it. I detest smoking and don’t shut my mouth when someone tries to do it in or near my house. I would rather someone picked their nose and wiped it on my couch, at least that I could clean up.

I am just glad that the grandparents live five hours away and we only see them on holidays.

By: Fiddledeedee (It Coulda Been Worse)

Fiddledeedee (It Coulda Been Worse) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:08:48 +0000

Carrie,
I think you’ve touched on some very important issues here. How we let our personal experiences affect what attitudes we pass on to our children. I’ve seen this played out in the media especially. Where hate mongers pass on their message of hate to small children. It breaks my heart. Sometimes we as parents, do this as a “party trick.” I have a relative who taught his young daughter to spew horrible things about a president that he didn’t like. Instead of taking the high road and teaching respect. All for a laugh.

This whole controversy is really making me take stock in what I teach my own children. In all areas. They are so impressionable. Again, I am so sorry that this hurt your heart like it did, but I’m awfully glad to be getting to know you better. And it’s always good for me to stop and take stock in what I’m putting out there. Both at home and on the internet.

Golly, who knew I would be so controversial!