Practical Parenting
I work with a guy (who I told about Becky earlier in the year) who has 3 young kids, all girls. I really admire some of his parenting methods.
For example, he treats the official age ratings on DVDs and TV shows as guidelines, and prefers to use his own judgement as to what they'd enjoy, and what's not too violent or sexual. He checks out the films himself first, and is usually on-hand to make answer any questions that might arise. As he points out, Terminator was an 18 when it came out, but it would hardly merit a PG these days.
They watched Torchwood as a family earlier in the week, and I was interested to find out what they'd thought of the (tastefully done) sex scene in the club toilets.
'They thought it was "yucky". And when the alien made the guy explode in a cloud of dust at the end, I said "and that's what happens when you have sex".'
Genius. :-)
Actually his kids are growing up with a very healthy attitude to sex and sexuality, because he tries to be honest with them and be open to any questions they might have.
'They already know about stuff like gays and lesbians,' he said to me the other day. 'Even transvestites.'
'Transvestites?' I asked, fearing the worst.
'Of course, I had to explain about you, didn't I?' he said, smiling.
It was a bit shocked, but I should have realised that the spirit of Glasnost would have included stuff like that. Shocked, but pleased. I know he's just trying to instil open-mindedness in his kids for all things.
But apparently I might have to use a false name if I ever meet his kids in the near future, especially as one of them apparently has an enquiring mind and no concept of 'improper questions'!
For example, he treats the official age ratings on DVDs and TV shows as guidelines, and prefers to use his own judgement as to what they'd enjoy, and what's not too violent or sexual. He checks out the films himself first, and is usually on-hand to make answer any questions that might arise. As he points out, Terminator was an 18 when it came out, but it would hardly merit a PG these days.
They watched Torchwood as a family earlier in the week, and I was interested to find out what they'd thought of the (tastefully done) sex scene in the club toilets.
'They thought it was "yucky". And when the alien made the guy explode in a cloud of dust at the end, I said "and that's what happens when you have sex".'
Genius. :-)
Actually his kids are growing up with a very healthy attitude to sex and sexuality, because he tries to be honest with them and be open to any questions they might have.
'They already know about stuff like gays and lesbians,' he said to me the other day. 'Even transvestites.'
'Transvestites?' I asked, fearing the worst.
'Of course, I had to explain about you, didn't I?' he said, smiling.
It was a bit shocked, but I should have realised that the spirit of Glasnost would have included stuff like that. Shocked, but pleased. I know he's just trying to instil open-mindedness in his kids for all things.
But apparently I might have to use a false name if I ever meet his kids in the near future, especially as one of them apparently has an enquiring mind and no concept of 'improper questions'!
I adopt a similar attitude to television and film content – but work more on the basis of the attitude of the protagonists. Which is why I didn't like Torchwood, the sex and violence passed me by, it was the attitude of the characters that annoyed me, they didn't seem to care about anything (apart from their own gratification and sense of self importance) and that is why Ulla wont be watching it. I guess I feel the need to set a good example in that respect.
For kids, questions are just questions. I’d rather they ask than just assume.
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