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How to deal with “woke” daughter

(106 Posts)
Oofy Wed 07-Jul-21 00:26:52

We had been very much looking forward to a visit from our 29 year-old daughter, our only child, who we hadn’t seen since last August because of COVID. She lives in London, has just bought a flat with her partner, and has a good job, albeit an awfully long commute, and we live 5 hours drive away. She went to a school friend’s (postponed) wedding locally, and stayed down for the week, which was lovely. BUT we, DH and me, were quite taken aback about how chippy she has become, giving us very short shrift if we come up with a comment which she perceives as not “woke” or pc, to the extent we were almost afraid to open our mouths for fear of getting our heads bitten off, and we felt we had to be careful what we said. We have always had a rather jokey way of talking in the family, but now she seems very ready to take offence. Any remark about her partner or his family, whom we have met and like, seems to be taken the wrong way. And when we said, as we were waving her goodbye, that she looked as though she had had a good rest, (which we thought she had), she jumped down our throats, saying she wasn’t stressed. Even DH noticed it, and he is the most easy-going of men. We are rather upset, not least as they have had a lot of help from us over their flat purchase, and can’t really understand it. Have any other Gransnetters had similar experiences?

torge Sun 08-May-22 18:38:10

You weren't wrong. She was over reacting before you were even finished talking to find out what you had to say. She could be described as judgemental.

PC, woke or whatever it may be called has done more damage to everything and one that could be imagined.

If people can't hold a conversation, listen to someone else's opinion what is the world coming to.

You don't need to to agree with someones opinion, but have the decency to listen.

In my humble opinion, the Woke/PC men and women are the most intolerant people around. I hope Karma will visit them and let them see and experience the real world.

Lucca Sun 08-May-22 18:14:22

Franbern

Is being 'woke' meaning being someone who cares about all other people, does not have facist, sexist, etc attitudes - and is a decent person?

I am (I hope) woke!!! Proud when someone describes me as that.

I am also extremely proud that all my AC and my G.children would also come under this description.

So much prefer being woke, than totally uncaring, like so many of our governement ministers.

Is wearing a mask ‘woke”?

ShropshireMiss Sun 08-May-22 17:56:22

Sorry, I meant poetry award not comedy award.

ShropshireMiss Sun 08-May-22 17:55:13

To be honest the comment about there not being a white comedy award would probably come across as slightly racist (or at least ignorant or reactionary) to a lot of younger people.

Floriel Sun 08-May-22 13:46:24

I don't think it helps that Millennials are frequently told how easy we Boomers had it and how tough their lives are in comparison. In the case of house prices they're right and I completely sympathise, but they forget that working women had it quite tough in the 70s, with few rights, that taxes and interest rates were very high and that so many things they are able to do cheaply, like travel and eating out, were beyond our reach. When we help them financially it's after years of hard work and saving., but I think they see us as a spoilt generation and they turn this general resentment into a criticism of our views as well. Oofy I sympathise - home should be a safe place to relax and be yourself, not watch everything you say.

Luckygirl3 Sun 08-May-22 13:40:37

I think that some examples of what it is that offends your DD would be helpful in order to decide whether she is over-reacting or you truly are making unacceptable comments.

One of my friends has a DD who picks her up on the most innocuous things.

Dickens Sun 08-May-22 13:12:41

I was in a medical environment and was asked the name of a doctor who'd treated me a couple of years previously.

I couldn't remember his name, but I remembered his regional accent and mentioned this to the nurse. I got as far as... "I think he's from....." and she glared at me, and then I continued... "I think he's from xxx the same part of the world I come from".

Is it bigoted to comment on an accent for this reason? It wasn't to marginalise him, nor ridicule him, just to identify him. And the nurse must have noticed it herself - because she then knew who I was talking about!

I could have mentioned his thick mane of dark hair with grey flecks in it (he was a handsome man), but thought this might be too 'personal'. So chose to identify him by his accent which I thought was more neutral - lots of people have accents. I have one. And I love the variety of them.

Sometimes, I really do feel as if I'm tiptoeing around egg shells. And it really can be very easy to cause offence without any being intended. If I'd joked about his accent (which I wouldn't) I would've understood why she glared at me, but it must have been quite obvious to her that I wasn't doing this.

Later that day, the same nurse was informing another nurse about a patient who was to be transferred somewhere else. The second nurse was looking around vacantly unable to identify Mrs xxx - and my nurse said "she's that elderly lady in the corner"...

Being elderly or having a regional accent are things over which we have no control. Why was she in the right, and me in the wrong?

loopyloo Sun 08-May-22 11:06:41

Why not? It was, is an interesting thread.
What is the opposite of woke? Unwoke?
Was interested to point out to my 45 year old daughter that she shouldn't say "committed" suicide now. Better to say took own life.
My OH used to say "Play the white man" not a phrase I had heard before.
One of the benefits in living in a multi generational household.
We get out knuckles rapped at times.
Metaphorically.

Esspee Sun 08-May-22 10:02:47

I wish people wouldn’t resurrect old threads. It’s not much more effort to start a new one if the subject interests you.

volver Sun 08-May-22 09:47:33

It seems that this thread has woke-n up.

Sorry. I'll get my coat...

Doodledog Sun 08-May-22 09:29:54

I'm not sure what point you're making, but if that's all there was to it, I think that shows that your SIL doesn't grasp the concept of racism, not that being anti-racist is a bad thing.

FindingNemo15 Sun 08-May-22 09:21:46

Once we were having a family conversation about films and I could not remember the actor's name in Silence of the Lambs (Anthony Hopkins). I said he was Welsh and very well known. Our SIL accused me of being racist!!!

Franbern Sun 08-May-22 08:09:27

Is being 'woke' meaning being someone who cares about all other people, does not have facist, sexist, etc attitudes - and is a decent person?

I am (I hope) woke!!! Proud when someone describes me as that.

I am also extremely proud that all my AC and my G.children would also come under this description.

So much prefer being woke, than totally uncaring, like so many of our governement ministers.

Lucca Sun 03-Apr-22 02:47:53

Thread is from last year

teador Sun 03-Apr-22 02:08:50

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our forum guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Skydancer Thu 08-Jul-21 10:43:22

I gave up expressing my opinion to both my parents and my children. I am considered a bit odd by all of them so now I keep quiet and often keep my thoughts to myself. I read something which said, "Speak the truth quietly". I think that is quite a good way to go about things. I am 70 and often found my parents embarrassing and my adult children's opinions generally are not mine. We are all different generations but I think a bit of teasing and banter is just fun and not meant to offend.

Doodledog Thu 08-Jul-21 10:31:37

Lucca

Just saying….oofy did return and took comments on board!

I know, and my comments were in response to her second post. There was less detail in the first one, so it was more difficult to suggest anything specific that might help. Many of the more recent responders have done likewise, presumably for the same motive. None of us could have done that if we hadn't read the thread wink.

Alegrias1 Thu 08-Jul-21 09:11:46

halfpint1

I have 3 Adult Daughters and have noticed a trend in them as
they go on in life which may or may not be linked to the present day - what is permissable to say/think.
As they reach the 30 mark they become more ready to challenge your opinions as being right or wrong.
By mid 30's the snappyness can get worse as they juggle, kids;
marriage, work, home etc
The 40's approach and suddently calm waters and you become best buddies again, ahhhhhhhh
I know I was like that with my mother and have witnessed the
karma three times now!
I will add Alegria 1 please refrain from commenting on my post I am having a nice day

Now that oofy's had lots of comments, and came back and gave us her thoughts, I think its about time I asked halfpint1, who elected you thread monitor?

If you're going to make nasty uncalled for comments at least get my name right.

How did your day turn out?

Lucca Thu 08-Jul-21 08:13:39

Just saying….oofy did return and took comments on board!

Sara1954 Thu 08-Jul-21 08:13:10

I don’t think you are doing anything wrong, it’s sometimes hard to accept that your adult children have different views, but you just have to accept it.
My adult children were all remainers, as were we, and we all want to keep the monarchy, so no problems there.
But, our eldest can be a bit touchy, she constantly says her life was difficult because she went to a small school and didn’t learn to mix with as many people, we struggled hard to keep them all in independent schools, probably wrongly as it turns out, but we thought we were doing the right thing.
She also plays the university card quite a lot, implying that our lives are very narrow, not having had that experience.
She’s lovely, but I think she enjoys feeling a bit superior.

Sparkling Thu 08-Jul-21 07:44:57

I do think responses can be quite hurtful if people think they have all the answers. Oofy does what most of us does, just treat people as people, we don’t have to be woke, I dislike that word. Just because she said she treats black and Asian people as people just meant why would she do any different, It’s hard walking on egg shells, I do it to keep the peace, as for the daughter in law that will fall out with anyone that doesn’t hold her views, how boring and tunnel visioned she must be, I have friends who have different political views and religion, it has never ever been as issue, we are all entitled to an opinion, not to have it rammed down our throats at every opportunity as some do. So Oofy, next time she visits, try as hard as you can to not say anything she might not like, but if she does pick you up I would ask her why she does that. I would never ever comment on their finances etc. That is between them, difficult I know when you’ve given them money to buy a place, been there done that. A gift is a gift, the minute you hand it over it’s their responsibility, just think carefully next time.Best of luck, we all need it.

Alegrias1 Thu 08-Jul-21 07:07:54

Why are you expecting to be told off here?

BigBertha1 Thu 08-Jul-21 06:48:52

Our major crimes according to our daughter are that we voted Leave and that we support having a Royal Family where she would prefer a republic. We don't have any differences 're being socially aware but are previously good relationship has changed since leaving the EU. We try to avoid the subject but she keeps bringing it up and us very angry with us over it. I expect to get another telling off here now.

welbeck Thu 08-Jul-21 02:45:48

tbh, you sound a bit out of touch or old-fashioned rather than mean.
to say that you treated black people as people and then comment about there being no white poetry prize, well i can see why that would make your daughter cringe at least.
but the fact that you admit these ideas indicates a kind of lack of awareness.
so if you are genuinely open-minded, you could easily read up on these topics, and then maybe have a firmer basis for discussion with your daughter.
good luck.

Doodledog Wed 07-Jul-21 23:27:13

The thing is, questions like 'why can't there be a white poets' prize' or 'when is International Men's Day?' are such cliches that it's not just young people who roll their eyes. For years now, people have been patiently explaining why there is no 'straight Pride', too. The answer to all these questions is the same - there isn't one because there is no need. The groups that have these 'things' have them because they need positive discrimination or their voices don't get heard. It is wearisome for those who have to keep on saying the same things over and over; and is maybe more so when they have to say it to their own parents, who were the ones to give them a moral compass in the first place.

Also, it's one thing having a view about Brexit, but when you are young and your future career has been blighted by it, the last thing you need is to hear the views of someone who won't be impacted in this way but has voted to leave, and be expected to be polite about it.

Your feminism example is another one - you say that you lived it, but she 'just talks about it' - can't you see how dismissive that is? Your experience will be different from hers - women's lives have changed a lot since we were the age our daughters are now. Your daughter will be living her own sort of feminism, and probably sees you as 'just remembering' your own way of doing it.

It's obvious from your last post that you are willing to look at the dynamics between you and your daughter, which is more than many people will do after a difference of opinion. I hope you sort it out - it's awful when we feel out of step with our loved ones, and you do come across as caring and loving (if a bit set in your way of thinking wink ).