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OK, that clarifies it. I see where you are coming from now. In my case our children have had (and will continue to have) a fairly consistent upbringing based on our own principles of parenting, which we hope are sound. You had no such consistency, so this may be hard to identify with, certainly harder to assume, unless it is hilighted. My sister is actually a child phychologist, who is great for advice, but suffice to say, and she would agree, even such professionals still do not find parenting easy.

On the first count, I'm glad to hear it. On the store, well IMO you should consider it equally as possible you will be shoving your 'self expression' into childrens faces. They are inquisitive and will read whatever is put in front of them, then they will ask their parents to explain it. Just because they can read doesn't mean they are ready to learn anything readable.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of potentially offensive shirts, posters etc which can be worn in front of children, those which use vague analogies or double entendre. If they ask it can be dismissed as a silly joke if the parent doesn't think they should know its exact meaning. When it is blatantly offensive, I personally would prefer that you reconsider when and where you wear it.

I probably wouldn't consider it worth saying anything to you - it's not worth it over something like this, you would have to be actually shoving it in our faces or actually targetting us before I would involve myself. Otherwise, I just think you were insensitive to the issue and steer clear.

You're confusing me now. I said you cannot teach everything at once in reply to this comment by you:

So when exactly should a parent teach their children about something? They all develop differently. In life, there is a lot to learn about everything, not just this issue. My answer is that when you feel they ought to know (e.g. if their body is developing signs of maturity) when they ask or when you think they have some wrong information. There's no special reason to suddenly start telling kids about anything in particular unless you have a signal to do so. Sex is just the same - yes they will pick up some things on their own or frim friends, this is unavoidable unless you specifically make a point to teach them it. Providing they know the full facts by an appropriate age, I don't see it as a big issue.

I think as much damage might be done by teaching too much too soon, when they aren't ready, as by slight lackings in knowledge or small misinformations from others. Both of our children know enough about human anatomy, without necessarily knowing exact details, that I don't see any major problems coming their way.

If it was in response to their own protest, which I consider equally as inappropriate as what you did (if not moreso) then I can see why you did it. Fortunately not every church behaves like that. Certainly not here in the UK, I wouldn't know about elsewhere in the world. While they probably think they are doing the right thing, I see that sort of action as the opposite of what Christianity should be about, what it is about for those I know who are Christian. They sound like fundamentalists to me, who cannot see the wood for the trees and perhaps your wakeup call will do them some good.

However, while you may not have liked it they were only using that same freedom of speech and lack of censorship that you are endorsing yourself. If you are against their protest, thats fine, but remember your counterprotest will not take away whatever damage and offense they cause to those at the clinic. It probably just caused anger, and may even have strengthened their beliefs that pro-choice are on the side of the devil and thus need to be opposed. You meant well, but it is certainly possible for such actions to make things worse.

I'm not sure what you find offensive about this. You disagree, that's fine. I'm not sure why it should annoy you though, unless they stick this onto your car, your house, or otherwise shove it in your face. If it's on a sign outside the church, I don't see a problem other than it being a bit corny. I would have no problem explaining to my kids, even with an atheist view or opposed religious view, that these people are simply expressing theif beliefs about God and Satan, and that we are all free to make up our own minds. I don't imagine many people consider all mention of God as 'taboo' or unsuitable for children. If they don't thing its correct, all they have to do is tell their kids its not true. It's not a complex issue, and I'm not really sure how it would be offensive, when placed in an appropriate place (i.e. not a school or other place children go to learn) even to those who disagree.

Seems to me that while you want freedom of speech for yourself, it annoys you when others express their opposite yet in their view equally legitimate opinions and beliefs. Basically you are bringing it down to 'who can shout louder' and again, bystanders are stuck in the middle taking flak from both sides whether they like it or not.

Basically you are assuming yourself to be more important? In your own house, sure. In your local bar or club where there is a consensus about suitable dress etc, and anyone going there should accept this or shut up, sure. In public, no - you should all be equal, and give each other due respect and space. You have no more right to make others feel uncomfortable in a public place, effectively forcing them to leave, than they do to limit your freedom of expression. You have to compromise sometimes - not everyone is against you, even if it sometimes feels like it. That's life.

My point was, you had better hope they are. It would really suck to work somewhere for a while, start getting somewhere and enjoying the job, then have some new boss with a massive grudge move in above you and make your life misery. It happens.

All I am saying is, sometimes you should take this into account. As you described it your actions are understandable, you were standing up for something important against someone who you felt did something wrong. I'm not sure I agree it was the best thing to do, but I can understand why you would do it. Maybe that's worth taking the risk if you really believe strongly enough, in fact it probably is.