tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685759408151060633.post8200782180157711286..comments2023-06-20T14:15:43.589-07:00Comments on Steingruebl World Enterprises: Who Parents the Parents?SWEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05567663448928052303noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685759408151060633.post-70761012009286350202009-04-26T11:16:00.000-07:002009-04-26T11:16:00.000-07:00Well written heartfelt comments, near niece.
Let ...Well written heartfelt comments, near niece.<br /><br />Let me say that you will meet many more crazy moms (and dads) as you raise your darling daughter. As the Germanic/Swedish mother of your darker skinned cousin (who spent many years wishing she looked more like mom than dad. Go figure, she is stunningly beautiful if I may so with no motherly bias whatsoever.) you probably are going to just scratch the surface of the racism issues. I had one mother tell her 5 year old (in front of me and my 5 year old) that she did not have to ever play with "that kind of girl". Let me point out that we had never met before. I did not encourage future get-togethers. A child who Jaya seemed to like a bit in kindergarten caught me off guard entirely when Jaya used a word this little one did not know. The girl turned to me and said, "Now I know what my mother means when she says N****** talk funny." Oh, the pain. Where to begin with that.<br /><br />True confessions, though. I knew that dark skin was not a sign of illness but when I first met you and had a 6 month old of my own, my first thought while bathing you was that you might be ill. You looked so darn pale. At least I thought that through before suggesting we tote you to a doctor.<br /><br />Some of these things are just plain ignorance. It is your job in raising the next generation is to do your best to squelch the ignorance and show everyone better ways to function. The parents are rarely worth even trying to educate. You can just keep them from your child and help guide their children when you can.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09689951037763602566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685759408151060633.post-36015710058467094932009-04-26T09:33:00.000-07:002009-04-26T09:33:00.000-07:00You have distilled so much of this into such clear...You have distilled so much of this into such clear thoughts, and may I even say great writing? I love the thing about how your little one thought people with darker skin may be ill - how that may only make sense in 4-yr old world, and the only way you're gonna find out it by asking! I remember being that age and noticing people smelling different, and if someone had explained certain hair care products to me I may have functioned a bit more diversely. ..Niki Naevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03198414475711264644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685759408151060633.post-47151111907180842232009-04-26T08:54:00.000-07:002009-04-26T08:54:00.000-07:00I'll mail you privately about my "too shocked to s...I'll mail you privately about my "too shocked to say anything" ~weekend~. Oh yes. That incident left me so angry at myself for being so much the pushover that I'm now overly sensitive. Dunno what I'd do if our kids had more than a passing fondness for one another. <br /><br />Is there neutral territory where you could meet? Maybe with the promise that when the playdate is over your daughter gets to do something she's just crazy about. That way there's no heartbreak when you have to flee in terror/self-defense.<br /><br />Now we (and by that I mean me) just need to find a way to react to these creatures in the moment so that the misery doesn't last a second longer than it needs to. <br /><br />Anybody out there have suggestions/recommendations?SWEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05567663448928052303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685759408151060633.post-18122721358933457202009-04-26T07:11:00.000-07:002009-04-26T07:11:00.000-07:00SWE, I agree with everything you have written here...SWE, I agree with everything you have written here. But hear me out: I wasn't trying to be nice, I was just in too much shock! I honestly don't know what to say or do sometimes when people are so far out of center they border on crazy. I bit my tongue on the tablecloth and regret not saying anything, but I just wanted her out of my house. She may be stupid (I actually think she is) but I pruned her as a friend months ago (not even for being racist because i didn't know she was until that day). The problem is our kids genuinely love each other and beg to see each other all the time. This is the second time I've allowed it in five months (the first was a drop off at her house). I will not make an effort again, but I have to keep my daughter's happiness in mind. This is a tough one for me, SWE. I just wanted you to know I am with you on this one.RYDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12867681560099673613noreply@blogger.com