Well, he's 12 and I'm surprised it took this long. We were watching TV and heard some things I considered objectionable and left him confused. Specifically, some 'tough' guy was belittling the Prius, saying it was a wimpy car. So I had to explain to him how some people don't think the Prius looks masculine enough, or has enough power, or even claim it isn't as green as it's supposed to be. The last point in particular I had a hard time trying to explain why some people think that way. The discussion seemed to open his eyes, since he had always thought the Prius was known to be the best car out there (even though I don't try to brainwash him at all) - with the exception of something with a built-in DVD player for the back seat. But now he knows not everybody thinks like us, and I think he's better prepared for life now.
Glad you got though it, Nerfer. It's always awkward when your son reaches that point when they start asking questions about these things.
Hmm... Perhaps I lead a less sheltered life? But by the age of 12, I had a pretty good concept that not everyone thought the way I did. That truth is constantly re-enforced almost every time I post here at Prius Chat. However, as you illuminate the reality that not everyone thinks like YOU do...foster as well independent thinking. Perhaps your son wants a SUV? Perhaps he secretly (thunderclap) has long disliked the Prius? Did you ask him what he thought? Perhaps he's looked around the parking lot of life and found himself oddly attracted to Dodge Ram Extended Cab Pick-Ups? The danger is teaching your child that not everyone thinks alike, is IMO far less important that teaching your child to think for himself. Ultimately, whether Green Prius Ownership or otherwise, this may include opinions that stray away from what parental role models have embraced. Unless he lives an incredibly sheltered existence, sooner or later the fact that people do not think in harmony, will be painfully evident. At that point, the ability to form one's own opinion will be more important than the realization that not everyone is going to agree with you. I'm just hoping that at some point in the discussion, "What do you Think?" was uttered without prejudice...
Thanks for the comment Electric Me, but I'm pretty sure he's not batting for the other side. We'll see where his tastes lead him. F8L has shown you can overcome these tendencies however, an attraction to big manly engines is not just something "you're born with".
All it took for me was an education on the negative consequences of my actions and a bit of compassion for the well being of others. Good story, mate. I wish all dads were that responsible.
As my daughter said, when we were discussing seat belt use*: "Dad you are always an influence on me, sometimes you are a good influence". *speaking of the facts of life!
don't let him on the internet unaccompanied, there is a lot of misinformation out there that could scar him for life!
Good story! Keep talking to him. Once he bolters past 13, it's going to seem like your rudder input drops to zero. It won't. He'll only 'pretend' not to be listening. My baby girl (25) constantly reminds me of things I did and said when she was a teenager. Since she's about to be a parent herself.....I'm no longer a complete idiot. By the time she's 30, who knows? I might even start getting smart again.
When my daughter was young I put some software on her PC to block porn sites. As she got older, we found it was blocking things she should have access to, so by the time she started high school, I removed it. I never checked what she was doing on line, except to glance at the screen once in a while as I went by. Now she is 23 & working on a PHD, so I guess all that information out there did some good!
