Tolerance

"Tolerance, Inclusion and Respect" - that was the title of the "values" unit put out by the school of distance education that was sent to Matt last year. This was in response to the Australian Federal Government's latest education policy that our children be taught values in schools. That's okay, I have no problem with that, though we are teaching these values as part of our day-to-day life. It reminded me of a time when Lloyd was about 8 and we had to teach tolerance.

Our boys just love weapons. Hubby was in the army cadets as a youngster and he and the two older boys like fencing (the sword type that is, not the crowbar and chain wire type). Military toys are everywhere. During one clean up of Lloyd's room I remember saying to him that his toy soldiers were doing a great reconnaissance mission as they were in every nook and cranny of his room.

Toy guns are just part of life. Recently Matt insisted that we absolutely must go to the toyshop before visiting friends. He wanted to use his pocket money to buy a revolver. I suggested he just take his rifle to visit Robert's house. "No, Mum, you can't just take a rifle! I really MUST have a revolver or it just won't work." Hubby was in complete agreeance saying that a rifle was just too big and you can't go anywhere unarmed.

Recently the three of them were using swords (the plastic type) in the family room when Anika answered the phone call from one of her friends. Miss F was trying to communicate some information regarding suitable music for Anika's school music performance video. The conversation went like this:

Miss F: The first book for piano and flute is....(rest drowned out by the noise of Lloyd, Matt and Mike going for it with the swords and yells).

Anika and I (in unison): Boys be quiet! I'm (Anika is) on the telephone.

Miss F: What's happening?

Anika: The boys are killing one another here.

Miss F (with 8 brothers): Oh, okay. Just tell them to kill one another quietly.

Where was I? Oh, yes, tolerance. One day a homeschool family of 4 came to visit. Mrs B's son John (also 8 at the time) and Lloyd were having a great time somewhere then John appeared with a rifle. Mrs B immediately stiffened and said, "John, just put that gun away please." "Oh dear," I thought and said, "You don't like toy weapons?" Mrs B assured me they didn't. Hubby reminded me later that these lovely Christian people belonged to a church that were pacifists.

That's okay I figured. We just explained the situation to our children and before the B family arrived next time we rounded up all the weapons and put them somewhere. Believe me, this was no easy feat. Hubby says that the reason the United Nations didn't find any weapons of mass destruction when they went into Iraq is because they were looking in the wrong place. They were all stashed here.

One day we visited the B family. Before getting in the car I gave the "We must tolerate and respect other's views" lecture and did a search for any concealed weapons. All clear. We were having a great time at the B family home with Lloyd and John playing outside. That was until Mr B came home from work looking a little upset. The boys followed him inside. Mrs B asked the problem. Mr B said, "They were playing war games." "Oh dear," I thought. On the way home I decided it was time to remind Lloyd of the "We must tolerate....." and said, "Lloyd you really shouldn't have started that war game." Lloyd's response, "But, Mum, it was John who said we should play a war game." Perhaps the next lecture should be, "Don't go along with games you know their parents wouldn't like."

So if you happen to see the UN tanks rolling down our little avenue in Queensland do me a favour and give me a quick warning. Thanks.