Gay Marraige, African American President, and death and ying  

Not quite the question I expected when I opened up the thread. I think you have to raise your child with the values that you want him or her to have for the rest of their life. We can hope as parents they take our lessons to heart.

Our children are still young, this is my second marriage. My oldest child though is almost 17 and we have spoken about certain things since she was around 15 or so and began discussing things in highschool classes. I think you just have to go with the flow and speak to things as they come up.

Namaste-Anora

Balance again. Tell them what you think they can handle.

I am a very very open parent. I know 14 year old girls with more knowledge of adult things then I knew at 25. There are boys becoming dad's at 13. I worry that if I wait too long, I'll be too late.

My children have all been taught what I think they need to know in stages starting when they were what others may think is too young. My nine year old and I looked at the picture of that little father and talked about if she thought he was old enough for parent hood. When she said no I asked why.

And your house rule is great and they are never to young to learn it. If you introduce things from the beginning and it's a part of their daily life, you don't have to "teach" them.

Great discussion!

I do discuss this stuff with my 14 year old. I show her what is happening and how it is in conflict with our Constitution. I take her to vote with me. I took her to caucus. I think this is important. he is learning it in school and this just backs it up and puts it in terms of everyday life. I am a conservative. She like Obama. This is ok, but she is called on to explain why. She told me it was because when all the conservatives are placed in concentration camps (me) she would be free. Scary huh?

I feel that if my kids are old enough to ask me a question, than they are old enough for an honest, but simple answer. I try not to influence their own, personal opinions too much, because I think that it is important that they develope their own opinions and ideas. If they want to know what my views are, I ask them what they think first. Thay way, I know what their opinions are, and if mine differs from theirs, I have the opportunity t tell them that it is okay to have a different opinion about things in life.
When it comes to racial issues, I have taught my kids that a person is a person. I don't think that race becomes an issue unless people make it an issue. My advice would be to let your son comew to you with any questions, and if/when he does, answer them as honestly and simply as you can.The fact of the matter is, the majority of kids do not see the color of a person's skin, they only see the person, unless they grow up in the kind of environment where it is an issue.