:"Mommy, the mean president is on TV".

[demgurl]

We ate out last night and the restaurant had a television set. My oldest son (6) made this statement in the middle of dinner. As it turns out it was someone who just sort of looked like the chimp but close enough that I was proud.

Our conversation continued....

"Sweetie, I know why you would say he was mean but he is just so much more than that, right?"

"Yes."

"Remember what he did during the election?"

"Yes."

"What did he do?"

"He cheated and we don't like cheaters."

"That is right. He is a very bad man and we do not like people who act the way he does."

I know it is not a lot. He did not win the state spelling bee. He did not break an athletic record or even get straight A's. I am, however, one proud Mom.

demgurl

[krkaufman]

1. Love to hear it. Just adorable. n/t

[Chevy]

6. Excellent

The force will be strong in this one:thumbsup:

[demgurl]

9. Thanks, Chevy and welcome to DU. eom

[krkaufman]

10. chuckle. n/t

[I Have A Dream]

2. I think that what he's already able to see is just as important as...

any of these other things you've stated; he's already able to see through the lies of the right and is able to see the truth. Hopefully he tells his friends as well.

Good job, demgurl!

[demgurl]

11. Thanks, Dream.

I am very proud of him. I have told him all about everything from NO right up to the fixed elections. I know he remembers all of it but I do like to reinforce what the chimp has done in case my son has to defend himself to adults. If he told an adult that the chimp was mean then they would just think he has been fed lines. If he says what the chimp has done then he will be defending himself and the beliefs he holds.

I am not sure he tells his friends. During the last elections they had a voting booth at his school. He came home complaining about all of the uninformed kids and how they all said they were voting for *!!! He was very frustrated and that was at the tender age of five. He could not understand how they could vote for what * stands for.

No matter what happens in his future, at least he will be educated on how things really are.

demgurl

[niallmac]

3. I call that; "teaching family values."

No office or position of power is so all mighty that the mortal who holds is is beyond
questioning.
'muz be Gods will' don't prevent facism.

[demgurl]

13. I teach him about free speech and democracy.

The "family values" will follow. He has done a vigil for Cindy. He came to Washington for the protest. He speaks out about * whenever we mention *'s name. He is learning all about the position of power and how we can fight against it. He just laps it all up.

Again, I am so proud of my little one.

demgurl

[FreedomAngel82]

19. Nice

:) I'm glad you're teaching him about our freedoms and everything. Maybe for a birthday present you could get him a mini Constiution. :)

[donheld]

4. demgurl it's nice to see someone bringing up their children right

:yourock:

[demgurl]

15. Nah, my son rocks, but thank you. eom

[MojoXN]

5. Your son is on the right track...

And I suppose for a small boy, "mean" is the appropriate word.

I save a few choice expletives for the "mean" pResident, I must confess.

Be sure to tell your son that not ALL politicos are as corrupt as Chimpy. 20th century track record aside, most American politicians have been genuinely decent folk. Even William Henry Harrison.

I'd hate to think that your child would become a man, and still hold the egregious misconception that EVERY politician is bad news.

Just my $.02.

MojoXN

[demgurl]

8. I have tried to teach him about others.

We talk politics, at the dinner table, maybe 5 nights out of 6. We mention Conyers as well as additional politicians. I do try to let him know that there are those out there who are honest and wise. You are right to caution me and thank you. I do try to cover all of the bases.

demgurl

[MojoXN]

16. "We talk politics, at the dinner table, maybe 5 nights out of 6."

I wish my parents had been as forward thinking as you... Sigh.

I want to have children more than anything (even though my kid-having friends think I'm nuts). I've always wondered how best to introduce the harsh realities that are the American political system to my potential (and eventual) children. I like your method. Early exposure = precocious prescience, most of the time, anyway.

MojoXN

[demgurl]

44. It is so important to talk politics....

It will effect every part of my children's lives and they need to know that. They need to see all the connections and the avenues they can take to fix things or even make a difference. It is sure better than sitting in front of the TV watching Rugrats. What does that teach them?

As far as introducing it to them, it is very easy. (at least it was for us) When you are so passionate about the country in which you live, you talk about it. You discuss the good and the bad.

Some subjects are easier to discuss than others, but life is never easy. The hardest thing I have had to discuss was Cindy Sheehan. I first broached the subject when we did a vigil and then, again, when we went to Washington for the protest. Death is one of the hardest subjects to talk about even with an adult. I am never quite sure that a child fully understands when I say how the facts were fixed, meaning Bush lied, and Ms. Sheehan will never see her son again because of it. I do try though and I hope that goes a long way with my kids.

demgurl

[babylonsister]

7. demgurl, he's only 6 for gawd's sakes!

Teach 'em young, I say. :evilgrin: Good on ya!

[FreedomAngel82]

20. Hehe

Hey even Kerry's parents started talking about politics at that age. In "Going UpRiver" they talk about him and his parents talking about politics when he was that age, so your son is in good company with that. :) In the film Kerry talks about how his parents would talk about everything that was currently going on etc and their parents were very involved in public service and passed that onto him.

[demgurl]

39. My husband thinks I go over board with it all.

I try to teach my kids who the Prez, vice-prez and even our senators are. My husband is a strong dem but he feels they have no need to know that kind of thing even if my husband can rattle off every single prez this nation has ever had. I always say it can not hurt any and he shrugs and lets it go.

I did not know that about Kerry, that is tres cool!

demgurl

[Connonym]

12. Smart boy!

You should be Very Proud of him.

[demgurl]

14. Connonym, thank you and welcome to DU. eom

[newyawker99]

23. Hi Connonym!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[I Have A Dream]

29. Welcome to DU, Connonym!

Glad to have you here!

:hi:

[JoZbean]

17. You go, girl!

I was at the rally in DC last weekend and I wanted to stop every kid I saw and just tell them how very lucky they were to be there. And then I wanted to hug the adults for bringing them.

I had my 5 year old grandson today, took him to the local Festival in town. He wanted his face painted. I let him choose the designs. He chose the Peace symbol for one side and Yin-Yang for the other cheek, without prompting. No small feat, since both his parents lean heavily to the right! (My work is cut out for me!)

Give that boy of yours a warm hug from me! And pat yourself on the back, Mom!

(edited for spelling, arrrrgh!)

[demgurl]

21. Jo, we felt lucky to be there.

It was amazing how many people said to us, "You are taking your kids with you?" We always said yes. They are citizens and need to be taught what their rights are. I do not want them growing up to be quiet and not even realize what their rights are. If we do not teach them then we can not expect anything else to teach them.

In regards to your grandson, that is so wonderful. You keep up the great work despite the leanings of his parents.

I will give him a big old hug in the morning, he is sound asleep right now.

Thanks for your kind words.

demgurl

[Binka]

27. Dem Here Is His Future Wife Peyton Rose Age Four!

When she sees Bush on The TV she says "What is that stinking jerk doin on my TV again?"

She has only been around adults her whole life as all my other children are grown and we travel internationally. She thinks she is 24. I'm waiting for her to come into the living room with a cigarette hanging out of her lip next week. But hey what can you expect from a good leftie who would not nurse on my right boob and who walked at 8 months and 1 day old.

Save your boy for her!

[demgurl]

41. Binka, we will have to wait a while on that.

My husband and I showed him the picture and he recoiled at the sight of a possible girlfriend/wife. Right now girls are still pretty icky! What do you say we wait about ten years and we will try again? I would love for my son to meet up with a nice democratic girl.

demgurl

[newyawker99]

24. Hi JoZbean!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[newyawker99]

25. Hi JoZbean!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[FreedomAngel82]

18. Hehe

The mean man. ;) True that.

[VPStoltz]

22. Something similar happened at the school where I teach.

The woman who runs the lunch line might as well be Man Coultwhore. She is a totally insane Chimp freak. She has a big picture of the prick on the monitor for the lunch tally. Appently, a liberal parent was talking about how The Chimp was going to "kills us all one day." The child comes to school and asks the lunch lady, "How come you have a picture of the man who wants to kill all of us?" She went into controlled rage.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

26. Very adorable,

but I hope you're not forcing your views on him. Forcing liberal views on a youngster is as bad as forcing conservative views on one, as well. If he were saying this because he honestly FELT that way, not because he had been trained to parrot it, it would be remarkable. I hope that is the case.

;)

[demgurl]

42. Nah, not forcing anything on him.

I do not just feed him lines. I explain why his dad and I feel as we do as much as I possibly can with a six year old. He, of course, is way too young for the details of Abu, but we do teach him about a lot of the other things.

I would never just tell him that we do not like a president. He has been, and will continue to be taught, that you do not accept statements blindly. When someone says something you must ask for the reasons behind their statement just like we tell him something and explain why we feel that way.

I try to teach him this at all times. When he says someone at school was mean I ask him why, what did the child do? Then I ask what he can do to stop it. We do the same thing with politics. I say that George Bush is dishonest and then explain why I say that. Then I tell him what we can do to try and stop *. I feel these steps are very important to the development of his mind.

So I do not just issue how he should feel or what he should say. I always go into detail and explain things. I have never actually said * is mean so I am proud of him since that means he must have listened when I explained things to him and he came to that conclusion on his own. He is a great kid.

demgurl

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

28. There folks... is our future...

:woohoo:

[elehhhhna]

30. My gals don't care for bush either--

and the oldest got a Tom DeLay good citizenship award last year. How funny is THAT?

Gosh they make ya proud.

[Tuesday_Morning]

31. When my daughter was a toddler..

...Daddy Bush was in office. One day she told me that her doll had been bad and she was gonna make her president. I asked her, "Why president?"

She said, "Well, the president goes on TV and stands behind this thing and then tells everybody the bad things he does."

Guess I talk back to the tv a lot.

[demgurl]

43. I don't get the chance to talk to the tv.

Soon as the chimp shows his smirky face, on my set, it gets turned off!

That is a very cute story about your little one. It is amazing what they pick up.

demgurl

[snot]

32. Makes me think of a story from Anne Lemott

She'd trained her little boy the answers, "What do we want?" -- "Peace!" -- "When do we want it? -- "Now!"

One day she tried to show this off to her friends and prompted, "What do we want?", and he answered, "Lunch!"

[Kaylee]

33. Everytime my 4 yo daughter sees a picture of shrub....

she says "George Bush! I don't like George Bush!" Somehow she came up with this on her own about a year ago. She must of picked up mommy's feelings about him when I would lunge for the remote to mute the TV everytime he came on the screen.

[demgurl]

45. Kaylee, welcome to DU.

They are little sponges and absorb so much more than we realize.

demgurl

[npincus]

34. my 1 1/2-yr old daughter used to say "Bush Sucks, Bush Sucks"

over and over again in her crib in the morning... I guess she heard it from me.

She's 3 now.

[demgurl]

46. Does she still say it? That is very cute.

[npincus]

51. Nope. As much as I hate the Chimp

I don't want to indoctrinate her at such a young age.

She does play with my B*sh deck of cards and occasionlly asks why I am yelling at the TV.

[kiraboo]

35. I have a clever 6-year-old too! We were shopping

the other day and he began with his usual, "Mom, I like life! Don't you like life? I really love living. And I love all the people in the world. Except George Bush. Right Mama?" I told him, "That's my boy!"

I know, a bit silly but I say train 'em well and train 'em early.

[demgurl]

47. Way to go, kiraboo, he is smart. eom

[maddiejoan]

36. My parrot Jake

starts screaming "Poop Poop" and spreads his wings out in a menacing fashion when he sees Bush on TV.

[demgurl]

50. Even animals realize how awful this pathetic excuse of a man is.

Ever think of going on Letterman?

demgurl

[afdip]

37. it's not a stupid human trick, but

we've taught our jack russell to roll over on his back when we say "would you rather be george bush or be dead." we've been unsuccessful at teaching him to say "fuck bush."

[demgurl]

48. afdip, you made my whole day!

I can not remember the last time I laughed that hard. I may end up sharing your short story with others - if you don't mind.

demgurl

[afdip]

52. don't mind @ all. enjoy.

[PowerToThePeople]

38. Parents like you make me anticipate the next generation...

[demgurl]

49. Thank you, power. Sometimes I fear what it will be like for them...

but I carry on as well as I can.

demgurl

[Shine]

40. Great story, demgurl!

Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job, so far.

Keep up the excellent work!

:hi:
~Shine