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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Help pls for things to reassure my young adults (18 & 21) about what’s happening in the Ukraine/Russia

9 replies

Wills · 24/02/2022 19:24

My older two are totally freaked by the media’s current push to claim we’re heading into WW3. I’m worried, but not freaked, but am struggling how to reassure them without dismissing the possibility that this could ‘go global’. I’m very aware that the media are loving this, even fuelling this but at the same time don’t want to be dismissive of their concerns when they echo a little of mine. Yes - I’ve seen this enough times that in many ways I should be dismissive i.e. being over 50 I spent much of my younger years frozen in fear of a nuclear war with the ‘ruskies’. However even as recently as 2014 we were in a similar situation when Russia annexed the Crimea. Yet, to my memory/knowledge, this is the first time Putin has directly hinted at a nuclear retort. So I don’t want to say ‘just ignore it’ because not only do I feel that’s dismissive of younger people’s emotions, but also that every time the globe gets antsy it could spill out and become the next WW. However I would like to provide them some comfort. What do I say?

OP posts:
October2020 · 24/02/2022 19:27

I don't know because I'm terrified too (mostly of conscription)...so when you do know, please tell me too! What a lovely parent you are ❤

CookieDoughKid · 24/02/2022 19:45

This is article explains it quite balanced.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60485766

Can you show the article to them?

Wills · 24/02/2022 19:56

Fab article - thank you.

OP posts:
October2020 · 24/02/2022 19:59

@CookieDoughKid that is a reassuring article thank you

Gherkingreen · 24/02/2022 20:12

My kids are 18 and 16 and I have this article handy for when they ask questions. Obv First News is aimed at a much younger audience but they always do well at setting out information in a clear, calm, non-dramatic, factual way subscribe.firstnews.co.uk/ukraine-first-news-explainer/

museumum · 24/02/2022 20:15

I think it’s helpful to talk about the USSR and what the map looked like when we were young. Not to minimise what Russia are doing in Ukraine but I think some young people find it hard to really get a handle on the ussr and iron curtain etc.

FusionChefGeoff · 24/02/2022 21:10

I'd also have a discussion about the media / 24 hour rolling news etc and how that will skew / emphasise our view of it.

Wills · 25/02/2022 09:36

Brilliant advice - many thanks

OP posts:
Tatty100 · 03/03/2022 18:23

First News (children's newspaper) came to my rescue on this. They have another brilliant 6 page explainer - and they have made it free to everyone to download this week. subscribe.firstnews.co.uk/ukraine-special-report-free-access/
So, actually I needed this background info myself and I can honestly say I feel a lot calmer about everything I hate all the senstionalised news reporting on this. Now my children are wanting to help send clothes etc.

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