My 8 yo asked me last week "what side are we on" politically after

[GreenPartyVoter]

looking at the list of presidents we've been studying. I explained that the family is a very mixed bag of Repubs, Dems, and Other. He asked what I am and what his Dad is and I could see he was going to say that he wants to be whatever Dad is (conservative in this case) because he's at the Dad-worshipping stage. But I cut him off before he could say it and told him he has to be a big man before he can decide what he thinks about politics because there is a lot more about the world he needs to know before he can "pick a side".

(I will say, though, that when my dad works on the presidents list with the kids he makes sure that they know that Nixon was a crook, Raygun ruined the country, Bush Sr. was a disaster, and that Bush the sequel is far far worse. *lol*)

[Iris]

1. Your dad rocks!

But you gave a good answer. I always wondered how it would be in a family with parents on either side. My parents were both Democrats, so it wasn't as much of an issue. My mom just said something like "Republicans are generally considered the party of the rich and Democratss are regular people"!

[bliss_eternal]

2. One of my parents was a republican--

in fact I was scolded as a child for criticizing Nixon in our home (I was a tiny tot and have no idea where I got the audacity). :shrug:

I turned out ok, politically--at least I think so. lol. :hi:

[boobooday]

3. Lovely, diplomatic answer

But I like your Dad's approach too. :rofl:

[rockymountaindem]

4. When I was about five

I asked my mother what the difference between Dems. and Repubs. was. She said simply, "Democrats stand for the little guy, and Republicans stand for business". Then I asked what party she and my dad sided with, and she replied "I'm a Democrat and your daddy is a Republican because he owns his own business". These days it appears as though my dad never really voted straight Republican down through the years, though, and he sure ain't a Republican now. I asked him why he switched, and he replied, "I really thought all those years the Republicans supported small business, boy was I wrong".

So, no more of that Republican streak in my family :)

[seabeyond]

5. i have consistantly over the years told them, cant decide because

of us. they have to learn, be informed, think and decide on their own. they are not allow to parrot us. i wont allow it. if they say bush is a bad president, i tell htem they have to tell me why. if they say they are democrat, i ask why. both husband and i are independent... we wont be a part of any party. now.... i have voted dem most always and from repug behavior since impeachment of clinton i refuse to vote repug from here on out. regardless, it is the kids to decide. i have one 8 and one 10. both are bright, ask questions, reads and tries to understand adn they are learning in history and govt in school. my oldest has spent a lot of time studying ww2 and all 60's. so he has a pretty good handle on it all

i refuse culting my child. and really glad you feel the same. good for yawl

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Well that's exactly it. I want the boys to be able to think for themselves

[Nikia]

7. I firmly became a Democrat when I watched the animated, The Lorax

When I was kindergarten age. I decided that those were my values.
My parents were members of different partied. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. My mother's parents were Democrats, while my father's parents were Republicans. Both grandmothers were active in the local party and served time on the county central committee for their respective partied. My Democratic grandparents were more vocal and frequently argued with visitors to their house as well as yelling at the television during the Reagan administration. My Republican grandparents also watched the news and made comments, but didn't yell at the television. I was exposed to both points of view, but made my decision at an early age.

[Ksec]

8. Ive brainwashed my younguns.

They had no choice .

I forced my belief system on them .

:)

If either of them would go repuke I would be forced to incarcerate and deprogram.