Moms Talk: How Do Opposing Philosophies Affect Kids?

This week, we focus on a scenario that's likely to have many permutations given the diverse backgrounds of St. Louis residents. The question is this: How does diversity—of faith, personal interests and financial policy, among other components—affect your kids?

Assume the following: Your spouse is a staunch conservative; you are a wild-eyed liberal. Your spouse is Protestant; you are Jewish. Your spouse loves to hunt and fish; you can't stand the outdoors. You love to shop and spend money; your spouse drives a jalopy about 20 years old and still has his first paycheck from his first high school job.

So onto this week's question: To what degree will these philosophical gaps affect your children as they grow older? And does it really matter if they do?