I didn't know how to title this..
For those of you who will be parents some day (or already are): Will you teach your children "how to be goth"? Will you try to make a goth out of them or just let them decide?
I'll try to explain what I mean: Your children are already bond to be influenced by you. When you play The Cure in your room, your kid will hear it. When your son sees you wearing gothic clothes, he'll think it's the usual thing to do. You can't avoid that, but will you reinforce it? Will you show him The Nightmare Before Christmas in TV, or will you sing Sisters of Mercy songs to them to help them sleep? I am horrible in expressing myself in English, I know, I'm not a native speaker; but I hope you get what I mean.
Some people would be horrified at the idea of creating a "baby goth"
What about clothing? I know that I would love to dress my little kid in cute gothic clothes for children but again, some people think little children are too young and innocent to wear skulls on their t-shirts.
What do you think about this issue?
Feel free to correct my mistakes

What? Skulls can be cute! Although that's not the way I would dress (too cute for me), I think it's okay on a dollie or a kid.

I also think it's the parents' business how they choose to dress and raise their own children.

If the parents are loving, nurturing, and supportive of their children (like Gomez and Morticia Addams, whom I consider to have been model parents), then it doesn't matter what others think.

Nine times out of ten, kids will think their parents' style and music are hokey, anyway, and they'll find their own style and music.

-- Nephele

While I wouldn't try to make them join the subculture, I would teach my children about the music and music of it. Whether or not they would decide to follow my path is up to them, however I will let them choose to express themselves and find who they are and I will support them.

I would let them develop as they wished, provided it didn't harm themselves or others.

Generally, until their teen years, I would dress them and try to socialize them as "normally" as possible. Afterward, they can start to become whoever they wish because I'd want my kids to have a shot at a "normal" life and I wouldn't want to bring unnecessary teasing and such upon them.

All that being said, if I marry a woman whose religious beliefs match up to mine, we would "encourage" our children to embrace their "personal power" and such.

I'm not going to "make" my son anything. I hope to instill good values and a love of music, art and literature in him and hope he doesn't grow up to be an asshole.

If he turns out to be goth, that would be ok too.

~spidey

I almost can't imagine not introducing any child of mine to the culture... Mostly the reading and arts aspect. Also I feel the accepting nature, and tolerance / understanding of others that is a part of the culture are important lessons for a child to learn... I expect that a child will grow into themselves as they grow older, but I'd be darned if any child of mine turned into an uneducated biggot... Learning from an early age, that people are different and those people are to be accepted as they are is an important lesson, I see the goth culture as an excelent example of a lot of the thing I hope a child would become...

I simply try to be the best parent I can be. I don't believe in forcing anything on my children, but it religion, style, music, subculture, etc...My kids have their own mind and as they grow they will develop their own tastes which may or may not mimic my own. No matter what paths my children choose, I will support them and encourage them in their own way.

I have lived my life and I will NOT live through my kids. They can be what they wish. I may pick them out black clothes here or there because *I* think its pretty, but when they get old enough to decide for themselves- its their choice.

My job is to teach them tolerance, acceptance, understanding, morality (as I know it) and how to be a "good" person. To love them UNCONDITIONALLY and support them in their decisions as they live their own lives and figure out their own truths.

Basically:

My paths are not their paths. My ways are not their ways. We must each travel to our destinations alone without being forced into them. On our way we should love all for who they are, not as we want them to be, for no one will be like me and it is foolish to wish for such a folly to occur.

Midi is very wise! ^_^

If I ever have kids (which I probably won't) I will teach them about it, yes, show them Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, read them 'The Graveyard Book', and have them listen to Siouxsie and the Banshees. But I won't expect them to be anything. I will excpect them to make up their own minds. I mean, you can't MAKE someone into something. They have to choose it on their own.

Agreed!

Should I ever have kids, their ninja training from birth won't really leave much time for anything else.
As ninjas they will wear a lot of black though, so I guess that's something.

Actually, I believe that the ninja of old DIDN'T wear a lot of black because solid black does not actually help you blend in with the night. Dark blue would better suit. Apparently also, the same ninjas of old would dress in red sometimes to instill terror into their targets.

Yeah, no one wanted to deal with the slutty ninjas!

Slutty ninjas you dont want to know were they have been FEAR has a new name muhahahahahahahahahha!!!!!!!!!
Yes i went there.

Aw, Milky, I'll bet your ninja kid will be adorable.

-- Nephele
Wondering if Milky Junior looks just like his Daddy.