How are you talking about Russia’s war in Ukraine with your tween/ teen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The largest western nuclear power is sending troops and resources to bolster NATO. The largest eastern nuclear power has already threatened the use of nuclear and chemical weapons.

Putin need only cross into NATO territory and/or use WMDs and then really that's the flash point.

Show your kids this interactive map, while explaining that DC/DMV is a primary Russian target. A flash of light and it is all over. No pain. If anything, they don't want to be outside the concentric circles of this make as that would mean facing nuclear winter. That is worse than death.

Easy dinner time conversation.

https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/

Thanks I will get my teen to look at that.
The Russians have already claimed Chernobyl today on their March to the capital city …

But first, book that therapy appointment for them.

Ha ha I know you are being tongue in cheek - but already did that! 😂

[Anonymous]

Have a 12 yo with a tendency towards anxiety. I briefly mentioned what is happening and told her I'll be keeping an eye on the news. I'll share more as needed. I'm thankful that we have the ability to do this compared to Ukrainian parents or those with family in the Ukraine.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in AP world history and AP euro, respectively, and neither teacher has even mentioned this much less encouraged discussion. Thank you, MCPS rote learning!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is taking AP Euro now and his teacher is from Ukraine. I'm curious to hear what the discussion was today.

Gonzaga? DS came home today and said they spent the entire class period talking about the historical and current events. DS is really into history so he knew a lot of the background and spoke more about the current conflict that any topic I've heard him go on about in a very long time. I was impressed but also sad that he's talking about war in a current events conversation.

[Anonymous]

My 9th grader just wrapped up the unit on the Cold War today. It's been fascinating to watch this build up to today's invasion through that lens. So yes, we've been talking about it a lot. Mostly about Truman's containment policy, the Marshall Plan, and how it was a never-ending battle to advance democracy and repel communism, for good or for ill. And here we are today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We watch the news in our native language (French), we discuss them, they read some of the articles in the papers, so they're very well informed about current events. They also have the historical background about 20th century Russia to the present, to understand the context, because we're a family that appreciates history.

Never miss an opportunity to brag. The DCUM way.

Are we to understand that you celebrate ignorance and mediocrity? Or are you xenophobic and have a problem with foreigners posting on DCUM, which is a website founded by an American and his foreign-born wife (from Georgia, no less)? Or do you object to posters answering the OP's question in way that arouses your insecurities, and therefore you have to accuse others of bragging to make yourself feel better?

Please elaborate, and let's see what you come up with.
Or scuttle off in shame...

DP. Oh please. Overreact much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are drawing parallels to previous world wars.

If you did not Mind me asking - what parallels are you drawing? Hitler and Putin? Rise of nationalism in Europe ? NATO and old Alliances ?

Thanks for any help.

Kosovo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found some good articles with brief modern history of Russia and geography that are contributing to Putin’s violent invasion of a sovereign country of 40 million people under the pretext of protecting Russia (NATO is a defense alliance not an aggressive military alliance) and “liberating” Ukraine from democracy.

The level of misinformation/ propaganda online, largely sponsored by the Kremlin, is frightening.

What resources are you using to discuss this dark hour in European history?

NATO has invaded numerous countries. Please don't lie to your children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found some good articles with brief modern history of Russia and geography that are contributing to Putin’s violent invasion of a sovereign country of 40 million people under the pretext of protecting Russia (NATO is a defense alliance not an aggressive military alliance) and “liberating” Ukraine from democracy.

The level of misinformation/ propaganda online, largely sponsored by the Kremlin, is frightening.

What resources are you using to discuss this dark hour in European history?

NATO has invaded numerous countries. Please don't lie to your children.

Here is a pretty good article from last month discussing how Russia feels about NATO encroachment. I must admit I did appreciate any of this before: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/12/russias-belief-in-nato-betrayal-and-why-it-matters-today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found some good articles with brief modern history of Russia and geography that are contributing to Putin’s violent invasion of a sovereign country of 40 million people under the pretext of protecting Russia (NATO is a defense alliance not an aggressive military alliance) and “liberating” Ukraine from democracy.

The level of misinformation/ propaganda online, largely sponsored by the Kremlin, is frightening.

What resources are you using to discuss this dark hour in European history?

NATO has invaded numerous countries. Please don't lie to your children.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found some good articles with brief modern history of Russia and geography that are contributing to Putin’s violent invasion of a sovereign country of 40 million people under the pretext of protecting Russia (NATO is a defense alliance not an aggressive military alliance) and “liberating” Ukraine from democracy.

The level of misinformation/ propaganda online, largely sponsored by the Kremlin, is frightening.

What resources are you using to discuss this dark hour in European history?

NATO has invaded numerous countries. Please don't lie to your children.

Here is a pretty good article from last month discussing how Russia feels about NATO encroachment. I must admit I did appreciate any of this before: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/12/russias-belief-in-nato-betrayal-and-why-it-matters-today

For what it is worth, Ukraine was no closer to NATO membership today than any other day, and the admission of the Baltics to NATO is two decades old at this point. "NATO encroachement" is the new "economic anxiety." We tell ourselves a simple story to avoid dealing with the fact that some folks are just bad actors.

[Anonymous]

Yes, my DS gets NYTimes updates on his phone and we discuss pretty much everything. Why wouldn't you?

[Anonymous]

Yes, but we have family in Russia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The largest western nuclear power is sending troops and resources to bolster NATO. The largest eastern nuclear power has already threatened the use of nuclear and chemical weapons.

Putin need only cross into NATO territory and/or use WMDs and then really that's the flash point.

Show your kids this interactive map, while explaining that DC/DMV is a primary Russian target. A flash of light and it is all over. No pain. If anything, they don't want to be outside the concentric circles of this make as that would mean facing nuclear winter. That is worse than death.

Easy dinner time conversation.

https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/

Thanks I will get my teen to look at that.
The Russians have already claimed Chernobyl today on their March to the capital city …

But first, book that therapy appointment for them.

Yeah - 16yo DS and I both have major anxiety about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We watch the news in our native language (French), we discuss them, they read some of the articles in the papers, so they're very well informed about current events. They also have the historical background about 20th century Russia to the present, to understand the context, because we're a family that appreciates history.

Never miss an opportunity to brag. The DCUM way.

Are we to understand that you celebrate ignorance and mediocrity? Or are you xenophobic and have a problem with foreigners posting on DCUM, which is a website founded by an American and his foreign-born wife (from Georgia, no less)? Or do you object to posters answering the OP's question in way that arouses your insecurities, and therefore you have to accuse others of bragging to make yourself feel better?

Please elaborate, and let's see what you come up with.
Or scuttle off in shame...

DP. Oh please. Overreact much?

NP here, I’m curious, why did you choose to include the information that you watch the news in your native language (French)? Why did you choose write that instead of, “we watch the news, we discuss them, they read…”
I’m genuinely curious why you included that detail.