Kids and Appropriate Discussions

[Mickey]

First of all...things are absolutely wonderful (aside from some diaper rash that we went to the peditrician over this morning)! Dd is just so sweet and cute and we adore her! Ds has been SO helpful. I just feel so very happy and extremely grateful!

Now to my question...

This morning, Meredith on the Today Show said that she gets nervous having her kids on t.v. because they don't "filter" things they say and she has no idea what they may blurt out. This got me to thinking (since ds is at a friend's for a sleepover)--do you tell your kids what is ok to discuss and what is not ok to discuss with others? Ds has occasionally blurted out embarrassing things or repeated things dh and I have discussed not realizing he was within earshot. One time he said, "But you said you don't really care for Lisa!" in front of someone who actually knew Lisa (and fortunately that woman wasn't crazy about her either, so she just snickered over it, but still...).

Have you talked to your kids about what not to repeat/discuss with others regarding family occurrences/incidents and/or discussions?

[MaryL]

Great topic!!!! Well, I know that my kids have blurted out things that have embarrassed me...especially ds2. He LOVES to talk. We have had discussions, and ended them with, "Now you realize that this is family talk, and it stays in our family." (Not that we're discussing anything bad...can't really even think of a good example to share. Seems most of these discussions happen in the car on the way to visit relatives. LOL)

And it's great to hear from you, Mickey!! Your sweetie sounds just adorable!!

[littlesista06]

... We have had discussions, and ended them with, "Now you realize that this is family talk, and it stays in our family."

And it's great to hear from you, Mickey!! Your sweetie sounds just adorable!!

Ditto.
(too short)

[Diane]

LOL I remember one time when dh's dad did/said something I didn't especially like, and I stupidly b!tched about it in front of dd #1. She kept saying how "naughty" grandpa was, and told him just that the next time she saw him. He snickered and couldn't believe I was mad. Well... after that we were pretty careful about what was said in front of the kids. (especially if we were expressing an opinion about someone else ) I remember having to tell them a few times that what was said/done in our house was to be kept in our house. It's not like it happened often... but if/when it did, we certainly didn't want to have it shared with everyone else.

Glad to see you back posting, Mickey... I'm so glad everything is going well with the baby.

[RCT]

We have had discussions, and ended them with, "Now you realize that this is family talk, and it stays in our family." (Not that we're discussing anything bad...can't really even think of a good example to share. Seems most of these discussions happen in the car on the way to visit relatives. LOL)

I second that. If you don't tell them what is appropriate how will they know?

[Diane]

You wouldn't believe some of the things my day care kids would come here and tell me. (and would sometimes share with the other kids) Let's just say that if the parents knew, they would have been terribly embarrassed. (as was I when they told me) LOL Sometimes kids are just way too honest.

[AnnW]

we haven't sat down and had specific conversations, but have had the 'this is for inside our family' talks.

[Melody]

We haven't sat down and said anything specifically but if the kids hear us talking or we share our opinion about something we don't want someone else to know we just tell them it's between us. We are more careful around ds3 of course but usually dh and I will wait until we can really talk so that the kids see us doing the 'if you can't say something nice'. lol

[Linda/NE]

Since there's no such thing as after the kids go to bed anymore (The older ones stay up later than we do), we definitely tell them not to repeat this or that. That's not to say that we talk about anything and everything in front of the kids. Our house just isn't big enough to seclude ourselves for every conversation.

LOL Diane! that is so true what little kids will say. It reminds me of the mother sending a note to the teacher something about the 'opinions expressed by this child are not directly the opinions of the parents'.

[Diane]

Since there's no such thing as after the kids go to bed anymore (The older ones stay up later than we do), we definitely tell them not to repeat this or that. That's not to say that we talk about anything and everything in front of the kids. Our house just isn't big enough to seclude ourselves for every conversation.

LOL Diane! that is so true what little kids will say. It reminds me of the mother sending a note to the teacher something about the 'opinions expressed by this child are not directly the opinions of the parents'.

LOL So true....

[angie r]

LOL Diane! that is so true what little kids will say. It reminds me of the mother sending a note to the teacher something about the 'opinions expressed by this child are not directly the opinions of the parents'.

That is so funny! I remember a Kindergarten teacher saying once "I won't believe everything your child says about you if you don't believe everything your child says about me."