Life's been good to me so far

I think that explaining harsh things to kids will always be difficult. Personally, I think that you tend to air on the side of assuming that you have to hold back on your own beliefs and concentrate on emphasizing how differently other people feel. I think that it is important to teach tolerance and acceptance and more than that, love of other people because of and in spite of differences. BUT, for me I think I would give a flat answer about abortion being wrong for example because I feel so strongly about it. I would say it as a fact because I believe that it is. BUT I would never teach my kids to think it was ok to look at the people who have abortions or support the right to choose as less than or flat out wrong. People are complex and we all live in a complicated world of context to be considered. The whole point of christianity is to love without trying weigh this sin against another. It isn't our job as christians to do anything else but love and support and encourage one another to attain the ideals that we believe in. So yeah, I think that it is cool to teach kids about your values in a passionate way, letting them know how deep and sincere your beleifs are. I just don't think it is so black and white as "this is what I think but a lot of people disagree with me so do whatever you want" or "do it my way or go to hell." I think that you can be a parent with convictions and still set a good open minded example, especially when you let your actions speak for themselves.

But that is just me. I think that political parenting is all about balancing honesty, conviction, and compassion, there is no room for sugar coated political correctness in the mix.