Discussion Guide for Families
Use this discussion guide for families to talk with your kids about interplanetary colonization, temporal differences, and what space travel means for your family.
Before You Start: Core Principles
Be Honest
Don't sugarcoat the temporal divide or family separation. Your kids deserve the truth about what space colonization means.
Ask More Than You Tell
Use questions to help your kids think. Don't lecture. Let them come to their own conclusions.
Validate Emotions
If they feel scared, excited, angry, or confused—those are all valid. Don't dismiss their feelings.
No Agenda
Don't try to convince them you're moving or not moving. This is exploration, not recruitment.
Conversation Topics by Age
Introduction: Time on Other Planets
Ages 8-12
Build curiosity about how planets work and why time is different
STARTER QUESTION
"If we lived on Mars, would a day be the same length as it is here on Earth?"
Key Points to Cover
- •Days are different lengths on different planets
- •A year is how long it takes a planet to go around the sun
- •On Mars, a year is much longer than on Earth
- •This changes how we celebrate birthdays and holidays
- •Kids born on Mars would experience time differently
Follow-Up Questions
- →"What if your birthday only came once every 2 Earth years? How would you feel?"
- →"If spring lasted 6 months instead of 3, how would that change your year?"
- →"Would you want to celebrate holidays on Earth dates or Mars dates?"
⚠️ WARNING SIGN
If your child seems confused about whether they're moving, clarify intentions before going further
The Practical Conversation: Our Future
Ages 12-16
Help them understand real implications without fear-mongering
STARTER QUESTION
"If our family got the opportunity to move to Mars, what would you want to know about it?"
Key Points to Cover
- •It's a real possibility within their lifetime
- •It would be a permanent or very long-term move (3+ years minimum)
- •Time works differently, which affects birthdays, seasons, aging
- •They'd be part of the first generation of Mars-born kids
- •It would change their relationship with Earth family
Follow-Up Questions
- →"What would you miss most about Earth?"
- →"What would excite you most about Mars?"
- →"How would you stay in touch with grandparents?"
- →"Would you want to come back to Earth someday?"
⚠️ WARNING SIGN
If your teen seems anxious or scared, reassure them that this is exploration, not imminent plans
The Temporal Conversation: Growing Up Differently
Ages 14+
Help them understand identity and temporal cognition
STARTER QUESTION
"What does 'getting older' actually mean? Is it just how many times Earth goes around the sun?"
Key Points to Cover
- •Age is measured by planetary orbits, not biological change
- •Mars-born kids would 'age' slower by Mars years
- •They'd celebrate fewer birthdays but still develop normally
- •This changes how you understand your own identity
- •You become temporally different from people born on other planets
Follow-Up Questions
- →"If you were born on Mars, would you be 'young' or 'old' at age 30 Earth years?"
- →"How would you explain your age to your grandmother on Earth?"
- →"Would you feel like your Earth-born cousins or different?"
- →"How does time shape who you are?"
⚠️ WARNING SIGN
If your teen expresses existential confusion about identity, slow down and reassure them
The Emotional Conversation: Family Separation
Ages 16+
Discuss the real emotional costs in honest terms
STARTER QUESTION
"What do you think would be the hardest part of moving away from Earth forever?"
Key Points to Cover
- •You might not see Earth family for years at a time
- •Transfer windows mean you can only leave/return every 26 months
- •Video calls have delays (4 minutes each way from Mars)
- •Your grandparents might die while you're away
- •Family relationships fundamentally change across planets
Follow-Up Questions
- →"How would you stay close to people you're separated from?"
- →"What if you wanted to come back to Earth but physically couldn't (gravity changes)?"
- →"How would you handle losing a family member while on another planet?"
- →"Is there anything worth that sacrifice?"
⚠️ WARNING SIGN
If your teen becomes very sad or angry, validate those feelings as completely legitimate
The Career Conversation: Future Plans
Ages 16-18
Help them think about how space colonization affects their life choices
STARTER QUESTION
"What job do you think you'd want to do on Mars or another planet?"
Key Points to Cover
- •Space colony jobs pay significantly more (2-4x Earth salaries)
- •You'd need specialized training
- •Career advancement means staying longer, aging differently than family
- •You might not be able to return to Earth after extended time
- •Your career choices on Earth vs. off-Earth are very different
Follow-Up Questions
- →"Would higher pay be worth missing family milestones?"
- →"What would you study to prepare for work on another planet?"
- →"How long would you want to stay off-planet?"
- →"What life goals are important to you - career, family, experiences?"
⚠️ WARNING SIGN
If your teen seems to be planning a move without thinking it through, encourage deeper reflection
When They Ask Difficult Questions
"Are we actually moving to Mars?"
What they're really asking: Is this just a conversation or a real plan? Are my parents about to uproot my life?
How to respond: "We're exploring what it would mean. No decisions have been made. This is a conversation about the future, not an announcement."
Validation matters here—they need to know their life isn't changing unless they want it to.
"Will I ever come home?"
What they're really asking: If I leave Earth, can I ever really come back?
How to respond: "That's complicated. You could visit, but after a long time in lower gravity, returning might be physically hard. And more importantly, you might not want to come back. You'd become a 'Mars person,' and Earth might feel alien to you."
Honesty here is crucial. Help them understand the permanence.
"Would I age slower than my cousins?"
What they're really asking: Would I stay younger? Would I be different from other kids?
How to respond: "You'd celebrate fewer birthdays, so you'd 'age' slower in years. But your body would develop at the same speed. By Earth years, you'd be the same as other kids. But you'd understand time differently—and that might make you feel alien to Earth-born kids."
This is where the temporal divide concept becomes personal and real.
"I don't want to go."
What they're really saying: This is scary. I like my life. I don't want to lose what I have.
How to respond: "That's completely valid. Space colonization isn't for everyone. If it ever became real, your voice would matter. This is a family decision, not something imposed on you."
Their resistance is healthy. Validate it. You want them thinking critically, not blindly following.
Support Resources
Scenario Planner
Use real-life scenarios to help your kids think through consequences and choices.
Explore scenarios →
Life Planning Calculator
See the actual numbers. How would retirement change? How would careers be affected?
Try calculator →
The Temporal Divide Essay
A deep read about why children born on other planets become temporal aliens.
Read essay →
Mars Reality Check
The unflinching facts about Mars. Use these for grounded conversations.
See facts →
Final Thoughts
These conversations won't be easy. Your kids might be excited. They might be scared. They might be angry at the thought of losing their Earth life.
All of those reactions are valid.
The goal isn't to convince them or to teach them "the right answer." The goal is to help them think deeply about what time, family, and home really mean. To help them understand that if they ever choose space colonization, they're making a profound choice about their entire life and identity.
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