A Senstive Issue

[Luna]

You wouldn't necessarily have to talk about what people think or whether anyone believes its right or wrong. It just is. My family includes a mom, a dad, my sister, and me. My friend's family includes a mom, mom's new husband, two brothers, a dad, a stepsister and her. My other friend's family includes two moms, and her. Another friend's family includes a dad and her. Another includes mom, dad, grandma and him. No matter what anyone thinks is wrong or right, that's just the way it is. It's just "this is who is in my family"
Do you ask families to bring up the subject of single parent families? Or blended families?

[Willow]

You wouldn't necessarily have to talk about what people think or whether anyone believes its right or wrong. It just is. My family includes a mom, a dad, my sister, and me. My friend's family includes a mom, mom's new husband, two brothers, a dad, a stepsister and her. My other friend's family includes two moms, and her. Another friend's family includes a dad and her. Another includes mom, dad, grandma and him. No matter what anyone thinks is wrong or right, that's just the way it is. It's just "this is who is in my family"
Do you ask families to bring up the subject of single parent families? Or blended families?

[CedarCreek]

You wouldn't necessarily have to talk about what people think or whether anyone believes its right or wrong. It just is. My family includes a mom, a dad, my sister, and me. My friend's family includes a mom, mom's new husband, two brothers, a dad, a stepsister and her. My other friend's family includes two moms, and her. Another friend's family includes a dad and her. Another includes mom, dad, grandma and him. No matter what anyone thinks is wrong or right, that's just the way it is. It's just "this is who is in my family"
Do you ask families to bring up the subject of single parent families? Or blended families?

Yes. This explains what I meant better.

[SquirrellyMama]

You wouldn't necessarily have to talk about what people think or whether anyone believes its right or wrong. It just is. My family includes a mom, a dad, my sister, and me. My friend's family includes a mom, mom's new husband, two brothers, a dad, a stepsister and her. My other friend's family includes two moms, and her. Another friend's family includes a dad and her. Another includes mom, dad, grandma and him. No matter what anyone thinks is wrong or right, that's just the way it is. It's just "this is who is in my family"
Do you ask families to bring up the subject of single parent families? Or blended families?

I understand what you are saying and I agree that no opinions need to be shared. But, I still think that parents need to be the first ones to bring up this situation if they want to. If they don't care then it isn't an issue.

As far as single parents/blended families go I'm not sure it would be a problem or not. Again, I was the first person to discuss these families with my kids but those are also not hot issues.

K

[itlw8]

I would get each book that fits their family my dgd does not have a mom involved in her life state order..... so the school had muffins with mom.... great except she has no mom... so ds went with her but they ate breakfast together in the cafeteria worked great but it could have been a big problem. donuts with dad is coming up and I see it causing problems for some kids.

I would talk about families and all are different some have a mom some a dad some live with grandparents and then buy a book to take home that fits their family I would also have them make a book and have them bring pictures in to put in the book. Laminate it if you can if not ,sheet protectors.

[Blackcat31]

I understand what you are saying and I agree that no opinions need to be shared. But, I still think that parents need to be the first ones to bring up this situation if they want to. If they don't care then it isn't an issue. As far as single parents/blended families go I'm not sure it would be a problem or not.

Again, I was the first person to discuss these families with my kids but those are also not hot issues.

K

K

How would YOU go about letting the other parents know (so they can discuss it at home first) that you have a family enrolled that has two moms?

IMHO, that would go against any confidentiality agreement each family has with you.

For example, do you mention to all your families that you have kids in care with no fathers in the picture or families with one mom and multiple dads? How about adopted parents? Do you tell other families that a DCK lives with his grandmother and not his parents?

How would you give other families the opportunity to discuss different family make-ups ahead of time so that they can always be the ones to discuss these things with their child first?

The other situations (blended families etc) may not be hot issues for you, but how do you know they aren't issues for others...kwim?

[SquirrellyMama]

How would YOU go about letting the other parents know (so they can discuss it at home first) that you have a family enrolled that has two moms?

IMHO, that would go against any confidentiality agreement each family has with you.

For example, do you mention to all your families that you have kids in care with no fathers in the picture or families with one mom and multiple dads? How about adopted parents? Do you tell other families that a DCK lives with his grandmother and not his parents?

How would you give other families the opportunity to discuss different family make-ups ahead of time so that they can always be the ones to discuss these things with their child first?

The other situations (blended families etc) may not be hot issues for you, but how do you know they aren't issues for others...kwim?

I would maybe just send out a letter saying that we are going to be talking about families next week and that includes all types of families. You could then make an inclusive list and let the parents decide what they are going to do. That would also give parents the opportunity to talk about single parent/blended families. This same thing could be done with a unit talking about religion.

ETA- It is also maybe not possible to do this in a daycare setting or public school setting. The only time I had to deal with a sensitive subject that was explained to my son before I could, I made sure I let the person know that I wanted a heads up next time.

K

[itlw8]

The child is 3 the others are going to see very soon she has 2 moms. They will likely just accept it. That is what kids do. They parents may soon ask and you just say yes.Her mommies are Sally and Sue have you met them yet?

[momofsix]

Does this really need to be an issue?
When learning about families with preschoolers I don't think we really need to focus on who individually makes up each family. No matter what the family looks like there are some things that (hopefully) are common to ALL families.

families love eachother
families have special traditions/celebrations
family members help eachother
family members do things together
and in and on and on...
There are a TON of family themed things that don't specifically say mom and dad where it can't just be changed to parent/s.

[Jewels]

I have not read the other posts, but I would only give that book to them, and give differnt ones to everyone else, I personally am cool with the way people live their lives, I support gay's, but I would never read that book to my 3 year old who I believe is two young to understand, I would throw it away, someday when my kids are older, we can talk about stuff like this. I say seperate books.

[MotherNature]

Why not find a book that discusses several different types of family? Same sex, hetero, grandparents/extended, etc..

[YHD2013]

That is a tough one. Since there are so, so many people against certain lifestyles I can see how this would be a hot issue. And I am not really sure how to handle it. When I nannied (in a very liberal neighborhood) I know that when they had family week at my charges preschool they had the kids talk about their families. There was a letter sent home asking kids to bring in a picture of their family that they drew themselves. My charge included me in the picture along with his brother, and parents and grandparents. To my charge (then 3) it was simple those were all the people who loved him. So maybe you could do that? Then just let questions arise? Wether or not you agree with fact that 2 men or 2 women should marry or have kids together, the fact of the matter is this little girl has 2 moms. So, it is a FACT not an opinion.... Maybe just say "some people have 2 mommies, some have 2 daddies, some have 1 mommy and 1 daddy, and some just have 1 mommy or 1 daddy" or something along those lines? That way you are not giving your opinion. Just facts. I dunno.... just an idea

[itlw8]

This reminds me dgs age 3 said to me this week " you are my family. yes I said... he then said Daddy sissy uncle J Aunt P Shadow ( our dog) Grandpa are all my family..... That is right I said..... He then said we are all stuck like glue We stay together because you love me. pretty much sums up a family smart kid. stuck like glue.

[frgsonmysox]

When you treat it as a big deal, so will your kids. If your kids can understand the concept of mommy and daddy, they can understand mommy and mommy. My kids do. It's not something we've ever made a big deal about. We are matter of fact. It's a damn fact. Get your heads out of the sand and accept it.