Gossip

Everyone partakes in a little gossip here and there.  We pick on certain people at our place of work or school, we pick on people in our family and extended families.  I just want to say it is a different ball game when gossiping in front of children.

I am caught quite frequently in the gossip monger conversations of my female in-laws as they relate, most specifically to another, not as frequently present, female in-law.  I smile politely sometimes, sit mute or awkwardly try to change the topic other times.  Rarely do I actually speak up for the absent party.  Only if what's being said is, 'real bad.'

I put up with this behavior because they will only view opposing candid remarks as venom from an enemy with no reasonable logic attached and I simply don't have the desire to be at the center of their discussions in the future. 

But now my kids are getting older and the children and/or grandchildren of theirs have been old enough for some time now.  Kids listen.  I do not think you should expose your children to hurtful, judgmental remarks about other people.  This doesn't mean you cannot speak the truth.  It also doesn't license you to say whatever you think is true. 

If you're aunt in-law wants to get some fake boobs, let her.  If her family makes enough money so they can afford a cleaning lady twice a week, so what?  If she doesn't like to cook so she orders out her dinners which are equally as healthy as yours, what's the big deal? 

The big deal comes when you begin talking so negatively and frequently about these petty jealousies that the opinion of your children toward the people you talk about changes for the worst.  Especially when those people are family, who, ultimately love them very much.

Most importantly to me is the ease with which they throw around this bold negativity with my children sitting right next to us.  I don't want my sponges to soak up that poison.