"Our daughter is now 3. When Grandma starts raving about how "The Man" is supposedly tracking her with a satellite or the tap water contains secret microchips that allow the government to monitor us or other ridiculous stories, she gets upset and and asks her dad and me if something bad will happen. Attempts on my part to get my mother-in-law to tone it down have resulted in accusations that "they" have gotten to me."
"I agree you've got to nip this in the bud, but I'm once again going to prescribe a little empathy here: Your mother-in-law doesn't think she's a conspiracy theorist who is buying into fake news-she thinks you are and she's trying to get you to see the truth. Between Facebook and wherever she's getting her "news," she's living in a different world than the one you are, and it's a scary place."
A grandmother repeatedly expresses conspiracy beliefs around a three-year-old, mentioning satellites and microchips in tap water. The child becomes upset and asks parents if something bad will happen. Attempts to ask the grandmother to stop resulted in accusations that others "have gotten to" the parent. The father minimizes the problem, citing his own untroubled upbringing. The recommended approach combines empathy for the grandmother's altered information environment with firm boundaries to protect the child. Parents should explain harm, enlist the father's cooperation, set clear limits on topics during visits, and restrict access if compliance is not achieved.
Read at Slate Magazine
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