Team Loyalty Or Brainwashing?

I"m a Red Sox fan. So is my dad. So was his dad. Because of this proud tradition, I feel that it is my duty that my kids are Red Sox fans. I will accept no compromise. If my children enjoy the game of baseball, they will be Red Sox fans. My wife thinks differently. She feels I drank the Kool Aid way too long ago and this loyalty I display for my team is nothing but brainwashing. She feels our kids should be able to make up their own minds on who to root for.

We spend a lot of time here at Noodad discussing important things about our kids like what to do when your kid drinks the tubwater and how to clean up puke. But let"s not forget to address the important topic of imposed beliefs and ideals.It is very important to realize that for every belief there is a different point of view. So what types of beliefs do you allow your kids to form their own opinions about and which ones do you give them only one choice? (That choice of course being the one you made) It is very easy to sit back, criticize, and say that every choice should be left fro your child to make, but let"s be honest: that isn"t too practical.

So how about religion? Do you impose your belief on your children from birth? Think about this scenario: You are a practicing Catholic. Your wife is Jewish. Your daughter decides she is Muslim and for sake of argument, your son is Buddhist. How practical is that when you want to go to church on Sundays? There are some decisions you just have to make for your kids and then when they are old enough, they can change their mind.

If you think freewill in children makes for a harmonious household think of how harmonious it will be in my household if my daughter started rooting for the Yankees? I break into a cold nervous sweat just thinking of the horror. She, of course, will be loved by me no matter what choices she makes. I just choose to only give her one choice when it comes to baseball.

Of course it is all relative. The Red Sox are an important issue for me yet I feel compelled to downplay other people"s important issues. I"m a hypocrite. I admit it. For instance, I think it is cruel to raise your child as a vegetarian. For the simple fact of denying your kid the taste of bacon is grounds for child abuse. Another example is I feel it is cruel to get your kid"s ears pierced before they ask for it themselves. Just another example of people prettying up their kid without their consent.

It is our duty as fathers to raise our kids and show them the world and all that other "wonder of life B.S." But where do you draw the line? Come on Noodads, tell me what you think.

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