bug-stomping

[Guest guest]

Hi Susan & Everyone,

 

I do exactly what you have done regarding bug-stomping. If we have a

visitor, or even if we're out (at a pool or whatever) if I know the

child and I know he/she can take it, I'll even get teary-eyed and

express great sadness for the poor bug and its family now that the bug

is dead. Sometimes I'll say, " Oh, do you think it's OK to stomp on

bugs? " Then when the child says yes, I'll say, " Do you think it would

be OK if space aliens came down and started killing us just for fun? "

Usually they pause and say no, or they don't answer at all. I don't

know if it will ever sink in, but I wish someone had been around to

tell ME these things when I was a kid!

 

Warmly,

Emily

 

-

" Susan M. Prepejchal " <sprepejchal

 

Monday, April 23, 2001 3:32 PM

Re:

 

 

| I've got a practical/ethical dilemma I'd like to hear comments on.

|

| Until recently, my son became hysterical when a playmate stomped on

an

| ant or other bug and that was pretty much the last time he'd have

| anything to do with the child. He is 8 now and is still not happy

about

| such violent behavior, but we find that not only is the practice of

| stomping bugs so culturally widespread at this age that kids look

at a

| dissenter as though s/he just fell to earth from Mars, but the kids'

| PARENTS fully approve of the behavior and will explain to us that

they

| think it's fine or that their kids are used to nature, life and

death,

| etc.. (??). I really don't know how to tell my kids to react or how

to

| react myself when this kind of thing happens so constantly and our

| speaking out only ailienates us from most of the people we meet.

|

| My 5-yr old did suggest to a playmate that they " just pretend to

stomp on

| them " , which I thought rather diplomatic. I " ve made clear to

children

| visiting OUR house our house rules against hurting or killing any

living

| creature, and I've expressed regret to children (in the absence of

their

| parents) over their actions in killing a bug that was not doing a

thing

| to hurt them. I have had no luck discussing this with parents who

did

| not already share my convictions, however. Any similar experiences

or

| insights?

|

| Susan