Have I Brainwashed My 9-Year-Old? If So, Is That Bad?

So I was at my kids' open house at school last night. One of the displays in my daughter's third grade class was some artwork the students had done that depicted "wishes" - you know, things like "a pony" or "a baby sister" or "good health." My daughter's three wishes were:

3. Live to be 100
2. World peace
1. Gay and lesbian marriage

I can't even begin to imagine what her teacher (who's in her 60s) must have thought! But I was sure proud of her.

BTW -- this is the same girl who last year, when her second grade class wrote letters to the "President," ended her very nice letter by referring to the 2000 fiasco: "My daddy says that you cheated. Is that true? Write back."

Oh plese oh please oh please don't let her grow up to be Alex P. Keaton!

And I liked the fact that she's questioning her Daddy/Mommy. No brainwashing there! :thumbsup:

hah, hah, hah!!! That's great!

My 54-year-old "daddy" says that too. Maybe I should write * a letter.

I'm in love with your little girl.
Purely in a parental way.
;-)
My little girl is 32 now and a mommy.
I could not be more proud at the way she's turned out.
Go, dad!

I believe it was Michael Fox who portrayed Alex in a sitcom.

Steven and Elyse's first child, Alex, seems to have been visited on them by some smirking cosmic joker. His parents are vehemently liberal, he is a devoutly Republican; they are interested in helping the disadvantaged, he is interested in gaining insider advantage on the NYSE; they see money as something to pay the bills with and Alex sees money as something to be completely, utterly, hopelessly adored.

Yet somehow, his parents did instill in Alex some of their most cherished values. Under his ruthless, robber-baron exterior, he is kind, generous, caring and sensitive. He is protective of his siblings Mallory, Jennifer and Andrew as well as his friends. Witness his reaction to his fraternity's abuse of poor, poor Skippy.

And Alex's life is not all investment news and social climbing. When his friend, Greg, dies in a car accident, Alex comes face to face with the void in his life. He selfishly passed on the ride, resulting in his own life being spared. While Alex grapples with the question of "Why not me?" he rededicates himself to being the best person he can be, and realizes he has only to look to his parents for examples.
http://www.tvland.com/shows/family_ties/characters/char3.jhtml

There was an episode in which he got hooked on speed. When he was debating with himself over whether to do something illegal to help him accomplish his goals, he looked at his Nixon picture and asked "What would you do?". Needless to say, Alex starting taking speed.

the time she is 17. Or in College.

But if you're not gay, and yet have made gay marriage such a big issue for a 9 year old, you may be pushing your politics on that and other things on her a bit hard...

I think we've only talked about this once or twice, in kind of a common sense "I think they should be able to get married, but some other people don't" way. I'm not gay, but my brother is, and his partner is an important part of our family. I love that my kids are growing up thinking it's not a big deal that their uncle is in love with someone who's (a) also a guy and (b) not of the same race.

I've decided to wait awhile before discussing the issue with my boys, since there are no gays in regular contact with them (except maybe teachers at school)

They do know, however, that "Bush is a very bad man and a liar, who is creating wars and using soldiers who have no say in the matter just to steal oil and make lots of money for his friends."

I'll be damned if I'll let them grow up believing that pig is their leader.

there are no gays in regular contact with them

Most people's gaydar is notoriously busted, mine included.

my wife and I, and occasionally the grandparents, it's a pretty safe assumption. Anyway, even if there are some (I DO live in San Francisco), I trust that most of them have the sense to know it's not an appropriate subject to bring up with SOMEBODY ELSE's 4 and 6-year-olds.

that is just great. when mine say they want kerry to win i tell them they have to figure it themselves and they have to pay attention to what is up and mull it in their own mind. i am not allowed to condition them, nor is the neighborhood kid, or teacher or police or anyone else, or a commercial or tv. no the feel of conditioning and you will recognize it always. it is theirs to figure, using their heart and they would just be fine

like you say...

My 9 year old (7 years ago) came home from her Catholic Grade School and told me, "I talked to the other kids, and they said you are wrong that it is o.k. to be Gay."

But I don't worry about brainwashing as she starts arguments with me just for the fun of it. AT least that's what I thought, more recently I realized she is getting into political arguments in school and is bringing the other side's position home, so that I get upset and argue back. Then she goes back to school with new ammunition.