History Memes

can’t remember being a troubled one themselves have to say

I can remember it, the lies I was told as a child have turned me into a very cynical adult who has serious issues trusting anyone about just about anything...

Abuse & molestation need to be managed by a professional.

However, the truth is true regardless. "Innocence" & "protection" with lies & deception are mostly rationalizations some adults throw around to make it easier for them to handle their discomfort with truth around children. For their own protection, children are better off knowing taboo subjects, especially what to do when someone touches them wrong.

When my parents would tell me the unvarnished truth, they hadn't undermined their credibility & I knew I could approach them about anything. We'd have rewarding discussions.

You don't need to bring up painful memories or lie about them either. You don't need to tell them anything. You can simply love & care.

Thinking impersonal truths about objective reality (rather than intimate, painful memories) should diminish enjoyment of life is a limited, misguided perspective: they don't have to.

I appreciate your input, and I apologize for dogpiling. Not telling your daughter what happened to her is absolutely the right choice, but I do not think it's equivalent to instilling disinformation about the treatment of native populations in the Americas. Omitting the awful particular details is good, no child should know what rape and murder are, but we aren't just doing that—we're teaching our kids that "it's fine actually, the settlers and the native populations were best friends!" It contributes to a widespread ignorance of the New World's history well into adulthood.