If you have an Alternative lifestyle, how important is to expose DC to Pop culture?

[peanutbutterkid]

We aren't that alternative, but still outside the mainstream. I have friends who raise their DC even more outside the mainstream... some (like us) make an active effort to keep their DC in touch with how other British people usually live, but some don't, they zealously shield their DC from perceived wrong/undesirable mainstream values/habits. I wonder if they're making a mistake, to shield their DC so much.

If you have an alternative lifestyle, do you worry about making sure your DC are still in touch with aspects of popular culture/lifestyleyou dislike, or do you think it's better to shelter them as much as possible for as long as possible?

all I could remember was the vanilla thingy (

vanilla is that something to do with anbal sex

Expose, expose!Be open, discuss. Otherwise you're being a bit strident and cultish.

anbal sex! is this new on the dating scene zippi?

oh wilf, dh still owns at least one Yes album

What's wrong with soft play?

OK me and dh hate the places but we don't generally go in and play. We sit in uncomfortable chairs, drinking substandard tea or coffee which costs almost as much as someone's monthly mortgage, reading our books, while dd has a fabulous time.

no zips, Vanillas would never do anything more than missionary on a saturday night.

I'm more of a sorbet gal, myself

OP-why be concerned not to expose your alternative life style.

Different is interesting but proved fatal with girlfrind

elaborate notasheep

Our soft play is skanky as hell, I mean in the toilets there is a big patch of what looks like dried blood staining the lino. But bizarrely it sells yummy posh cookies and tyrrells crisps

Anyway, we are not alternative at all, very mainstream.

In answer to the OP, I agree it's a balance. I want DD to have most of my values but I want her to be able to grow up and make her own decisions without worrying about my reaction. E.g. I am an atheist, but I have made that decision having been bought up in a religious family. However I don't want DD to be an atheist by default, because she doesn't know what else is out there. I think that is the key, explain to your DCs what you believe in but also that not everyone agrees with you.

this thread makes me want to go to McDees and get a burger

(btw, Happy Meals have gone up 20p, I had to shield my children from that fact of popular culture only yesterday)

at 'is HSM like Fame?'. No. Fame was good
.

Mines a Big Mac Meal Olive. .

mine is a half price tesco mississippi mud pie im afraid

and only me to eat it

this is wrong on so many counts but this thread made me do it

i forgot vanilla was the opposite

overmydeadbody-girlfriend treated her breast cancer alternatively

sorry to hear that notasheep

We just went to Crealy Adventure Park today where they have a soft play centre - dd really enjoyed it. For a change we weren't sitting on uncomfortable chairs, but on the grass outside in the sunshine. We still drank the disgusting overpriced tea though - oh and they'd run out of doughnuts (the only reason for going!).

This is very interesting and making me think.

Because we live in arse end of nowhere, and not in UK, my dc are not exposed to McD, soft play, TV, any convenience food, etc etc. tbh it was part of the reason for moving away. However when we come back to visit they enjoy all of these things and have no problem fitting back in with people.

I am wondering if they will rebel. They have been asking for those awful cans of processed pasta in the shape of spongebob or whatever but I refuse to buy them. I said to dh that they will probably live on this stuff once they leave home, but he reckons they'll only try it once then realise how disgusting it is.

Of more concern is that we are Christian, which tbh is alternative these days. Have yet to see what dc will do with that once peer pressure kicks in.

I think that, no matter what your values, all you can do is demonstrate them to your DC and discuss (calmly, not prohibitively) why you hold them when the DC become aware of stuff you would rather they did not eat/want/play with/watch. IE don't make your kid the only kid not allowed to go on the school trip to see LazyTown Live or something.

Mind you, when I was a kid I was very resistant to peer pressure, and would often refuse to like things that the other kids liked, just because all the other kids liked them. Which drove my parents batshit.

But solidgoldbrass, my dd IS almost the only one not doing yoga club at school. She knows why I don't want her to do it.

Hmm. How old is your DD and how does she feel about it? If she's not bothered about it then no need to worry; if she is feeling either left out or miserable or actively interested in yoga club then you are maybe imposing your beliefs on her to an unfair extent. She does have the right not to share your opinions you know.

It is possible to have the odd maccy d and not be in league with the devil. mmmm, sausage and egg mcmuffin. Saved my hungover life on so many occasions.