Kid's friends want to be police officers -- how to handle

[Anonymous]

Our preschool just sent around a year end video. Part of it was asking each kid what they wanted to be when they grew up. This was done at home, so the parents recorded the video. I'm not sure whether it was done pre George Floyd's death or not.

Two of the kids stated that they wanted to be police officers and talked about how they help/protect people. I'm not sure how to react.

First, should I say anything to my kid to offer a more balanced perspective, or should I just let it go? Should this change the degree to which I let me kid play with those kids, or should it change my interactions with the parents?

Especially if this was done post-Floyd murder (although let's not pretend the same thing has happened repeatedly in recent and less recent history), it seems at best tone deaf to submit those videos of the kids idolizing the police. It is very easy to redirect a five year old and I am sure the parents could have encouraged their kids to say something less controversial. I don't know whether this was intended as an overt political statement, but it is surprising they wouldn't realize how at least some people would view their kids' statements and I wonder more broadly what they are teaching their kids.

[Anonymous]

JFC. When DS was 3 he wanted to be a lobster. At 4, he wanted to be a famous soccer player. At 5, he wanted to be a fisherman.

What are you going to tell your kid....don't be friends with those kids because they want to be cops? All cops are bad?

[Anonymous]

A child wanting to be a police officer who helps and protects people is good, OP. Not offensive or controversial or bad.

[Anonymous]

You do realize that not all cops are bad, right? This is insane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our preschool just sent around a year end video. Part of it was asking each kid what they wanted to be when they grew up. This was done at home, so the parents recorded the video. I'm not sure whether it was done pre George Floyd's death or not.

Two of the kids stated that they wanted to be police officers and talked about how they help/protect people. I'm not sure how to react.

First, should I say anything to my kid to offer a more balanced perspective, or should I just let it go? Should this change the degree to which I let me kid play with those kids, or should it change my interactions with the parents?

Especially if this was done post-Floyd murder (although let's not pretend the same thing has happened repeatedly in recent and less recent history), it seems at best tone deaf to submit those videos of the kids idolizing the police. It is very easy to redirect a five year old and I am sure the parents could have encouraged their kids to say something less controversial. I don't know whether this was intended as an overt political statement, but it is surprising they wouldn't realize how at least some people would view their kids' statements and I wonder more broadly what they are teaching their kids.

My daughter asked me if she could be a police officer for Halloween this year. We're black af.
There is nothing wrong with being a police officer or wanting to be a police officer. It's very likely that those kids were rightfully taught that police are there to protect people - because they ARE. The problem is that some police officers and their administration seem to have forgotten that that's their intended purpose.
Let the kids be police officers and teach them to grow up to not only be one of the good ones, but one of the good ones who enact change from within the force.

-black mom, D&I officer, National Urban League affiliate, HBCU grad, SE DC resident.

[Anonymous]

When I was little I wanted to be a nun or a checker at the Acme (our local grocery store). My parents let me run with that.

I cannot BELIEVE you think the parents should have steered them to something less “controversial.” Stay in your lane. Worry about your own kids.

[Anonymous]

Troll.

[Anonymous]

The majority of police officers are committed to helping and protecting people. That is exactly what 5 year olds should think. That naivety is the beauty of childhood. As they grow, reality will set in.

[Anonymous]

my kids were outside on the street dressed as police officers to play protecting businesses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do realize that not all cops are bad, right? This is insane

Where have you been? The only acceptable narrative is that all cops are bad.

[Anonymous]

One of our African American employees has three kids at home while she works. She got a text from the kids that a black man had broken into her home and was pointing a gun at the kids. African American woman called 911- the police, left work and raced home. Police were on the site before she was. Police diffused the situation and the African American male that broke into the home was escorted out.

African American Mom was glad to have a phone number to call and police who showed up and protected her children.
The three children were safe.

THis was two weeks ago. In Maryland. Not Baltimore.

There is nothing wrong with a child wanting to be a police officer who helps and protects people.

If you don't want a functional police department move to Venezuela or Mexico. Middle class people end up hiring their own security in those countries.

[Anonymous]

Yes definitely you must talk about this. Address it head on. Tell the kid he is better of joining MS 13 or similar organization. Then call the kid's parents and give them a piece of your mind and educated them about the police. Never allow that kid to play with your kid again. Block the kid on FB, and all your other social media. Ghost the kid and the parents. Go print pamphlets and warn all the other parents and kids about this kid.

[Anonymous]

Um, what? My kid wanted to live on the moon when he was that age. Not be an astronaut. Just to live on the moon. And why do you care what other people's tiny children want to be when they grow up? If you have this much time on your hands, maybe consider getting a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of our African American employees has three kids at home while she works. She got a text from the kids that a black man had broken into her home and was pointing a gun at the kids. African American woman called 911- the police, left work and raced home. Police were on the site before she was. Police diffused the situation and the African American male that broke into the home was escorted out.

African American Mom was glad to have a phone number to call and police who showed up and protected her children.
The three children were safe.

THis was two weeks ago. In Maryland. Not Baltimore.

There is nothing wrong with a child wanting to be a police officer who helps and protects people.

If you don't want a functional police department move to Venezuela or Mexico. Middle class people end up hiring their own security in those countries.

JFC you're racist. You needing to point out your employee's and the assailant's race is tone-deaf as hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our preschool just sent around a year end video. Part of it was asking each kid what they wanted to be when they grew up. This was done at home, so the parents recorded the video. I'm not sure whether it was done pre George Floyd's death or not.

Two of the kids stated that they wanted to be police officers and talked about how they help/protect people. I'm not sure how to react.

First, should I say anything to my kid to offer a more balanced perspective, or should I just let it go? Should this change the degree to which I let me kid play with those kids, or should it change my interactions with the parents?

Especially if this was done post-Floyd murder (although let's not pretend the same thing has happened repeatedly in recent and less recent history), it seems at best tone deaf to submit those videos of the kids idolizing the police. It is very easy to redirect a five year old and I am sure the parents could have encouraged their kids to say something less controversial. I don't know whether this was intended as an overt political statement, but it is surprising they wouldn't realize how at least some people would view their kids' statements and I wonder more broadly what they are teaching their kids.

OP, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.