Viva la France

[Southern by choice]

I think parents know their children better than anyone else and it is a very individual decision. Personally if a parent decides it is not the time than the parent makes that decision.
I understand OFA. You know your daughter better than anyone and you get to make those decisions.

Our family because of our heritage does things a little different.

Overnight everything can change ... last night in France immediately following the attacks they started going door to door collecting up guns...everyone's.
Remember how many things are passed into law due to the most immediate crisis... there is a saying..

"never let a crisis go to waste"

History repeats itself... I think of Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler, the list goes on ... then I look at America and see where she is heading....
I look at the many that say death to Israel and America.

Like @norseofcourse said quoting Corrie Ten Boom... the parent knew what could be carried and what could not.

I think France is a trial run... you see many of those coming in can now get to the US easily.

For those of us that pray.. Pray for France Israel, US.

 

[babsbag]

@OneFineAcre I agree with protecting a child's innocence when you can. Childhood is short enough. As a parent of two adult "boys" it broke my heart to have my youngest tell me at the age of 23 that he may never have kids as he didn't want to bring them into our horrible mixed up world. He was worried about things like this as well as environmental choices. Innocence will end, but let it be slow.

My boys grew up with Desert Storm and then 9-11. They were at those towers with Boy Scouts only a few weeks before that incidence. We lived in a military town at the time and many of their friend's parents were deployed and had their lives turned upside down when all of that madness started. They asked a lot of questions that I had to answer, it was hard for all of us.

 

[bonbean01]

Agreed Southern. My daughter and family live in France close to the Switzerland border...she knows that her 6 and 10 year old will hear this when they go to school on Monday...no way to shield them from that, much as she wants to. We talked on the phone a long time last night while this was going on and really the best advice I could come up with was for her and her husband to decide how best to tell them since it is better they hear about it from them rather than others. Tough balancing act to gently inform them without causing fear and nightmares...but this is the world we live in.

Parents know their children better than anyone else and I believe it is their call.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

I am a teenager and love the news, I found out last night on the radio. I personally don't talk about things that have happened with youngerkids unless it is something to obvious or they mention it. Onestly OFA, I am not much older then Rachel, but it is your decesion based on how mature you think she is. I have been told I act older and can handle hard things. This was bad, just like 9/11. We Americans will help the French get through this, just as they have helped us get through many things.

 

[Southern by choice]

I am a teenager and love the news, I found out last night on the radio. I personally don't talk about things that have happened with youngerkids unless it is something to obvious or they mention it. Onestly OFA, I am not much older then Rachel, but it is your decesion based on how mature you think she is. I have been told I act older and can handle hard things. This was bad, just like 9/11. We Americans will help the French get through this, just as they have helped us get through many things.

Truth is France has not really helped the US.
During the Revolutionary war yes, of course it was only because of thier hatred of England.... but remember all of France would be speaking German if it were not for the US and Britain.
You are young but France has not supported the US.
In 1986 Lybia attacked the American civilians and military... When Reagan went to retaliate France would not allow US to use their airspace. The history of what happened before 1985 and after is equally important. In more recent conflicts they have not allied with us. Their is a great disdain for Americans in France but let them get into trouble, like the rest of the world, and who do they all call on?

Setting all that aside France does need the support and prayers of all of us.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I was on my phone last night and was being brief.
We screen these things from her and we do not let it play non stop with all of the details on the 24x7 news.
We told her what happened. Some terrorist launched an attach in Paris. They shot many people in a theater and in several restaurants.
We tell her that their are evil people in the world who do not value life the way that we do.
We "screen" the material, but we cannot "shield" her from the reality of the world today.

But, no I don't think she needs all of the details and gore at this point. We don't let her watch PG-13 movies because she is 11. All of the details in the news is PG-13 material.

It just breaks my heart that she has to know about these things.

 

[bonbean01]

Being a parent is not easy and I think how you handled it was best

I hate that my granddaughters also will be told about this (like you, minus the gory details and constant tv coverage) and sad as it is...still best to hear it from parents rather than in school.

My opinion is that you handled this just right

 

[OneFineAcre]

Truth is France has not really helped the US.
During the Revolutionary war yes, of course it was only because of thier hatred of England.... but remember all of France would be speaking German if it were not for the US and Britain.
You are young but France has not supported the US.
In 1986 Lybia attacked the American civilians and military... When Reagan went to retaliate France would not allow US to use their airspace. The history of what happened before 1985 and after is equally important. In more recent conflicts they have not allied with us. Their is a great disdain for Americans in France but let them get into trouble, like the rest of the world, and who do they all call on?

Setting all that aside France does need the support and prayers of all of us.

The French Government in recent years has seen itself as a counter to US dominance for some reason
Probably because of their diminished role in the world
Plus their government is usually liberal
The disdain for Americans is mostly in Paris they see themselves as the most sophisticated city in the world
It's not entirely different than people in NYC view tourists from the rest of the country particularly the south
People in the French countryside are much friendlier towards Americans
And if you ever have the chance to visit the American cemetery at Normandy and the reverence shown by the French people who maintain it you realize that their is a great deal of appreciation for the sacrifice Americans made to free France

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Southern, I din't know that, I hwas just going off radio information

 

[OneFineAcre]

Southern, I din't know that, I hwas just going off radio information

Poka_Doodle
Southern is correct the French have not always agreed with us on everything
But that's how it is with friends
They are our oldest ally
Did you know they gave us the Statue of Liberty ?
We will help them if they need us
Because we are Americans