How Much Should the Kids Know?
These are excerpts taken from the TalkCity Parents’ chat room about the sex scandal surrounding President Clinton.
Virgil1: I am making every effort to prevent my kids from picking up on what’s happening.
Farley: It’s getting tuff with the coverage on the news, radio and just about every other place you can name, but I try to distract them off the topic. I keep the discussion to general concepts about the marriage contract and honesty.
Suzzieme: I’m open to discussing the whole thing, no matter what questions come up. I can’t keep my kid(s) from becoming cynical; it’s inevitable these days.
Mary: I would probably try to avoid the oral sex discussion with my young kids, but I would explain that the president is accused of being dishonest, and then tell them why it’s so important to be honest. I think this needs to be addressed differently with every child. But good luck to all of us! This is a tough one.
PettyPoet: NO! We can’t protect them from the media! None of it! Only by getting involved personally with the kids, the most valuable asset this world has today, can we hope (and pray) to ultimately see.
Christy: When my two children ask me questions that i feel are “own up” questions, i try to answer them in a child way, but with honesty. In today’s society, my kids are coming home from school with the most bizarre questions i probably didn’t ask till i was a teenager!!
tomtom: Bill Clinton is a man, in fact the most powerful man in the free nation. You know the old saying, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely!” And yes you can protect your children from viewing things you do not approve of, or things you do not think they should be viewing or hearing. TURN OFF THE T.V., STOP DELIVERY OF THE NEWSPAPER, TURN OFF THE RADIO, GET RID OF CABLE TV. Keep them locked in their rooms. Only let them read Dr. Seuss and things like that. And keep your conversations out of earshot if you don’t want them to hear that you are spreading more rumors and things that you have no direct knowledge of.
Tammy34: Well, tomtom: I am getting tired of people saying that President Clinton is “just a man.” He is not “just a man.” He is the leader of the free world, the most powerful man in America, and the leader of the free world. It makes it very hard to convince children, teenagers that abstinence is the best policy when our leader doesn’t have enough self-control to keep himself out of trouble.
sethisme: I can only plan to raise a kind, loving, open, honest son that doesn’t cheat on his wife, hurt innocent people and all due to his own selfish needs. I want him to know, not everything is all roses and sunny and wonderful. That not everything is perfect, including our president.
sallyryde: If what is being said is true, than this poor “child,” Monica, is no child. What about her responsibility, and respect for the country? I would hope our daughters would know better than to get involved in such a demeaning situation.
Seml8234: will you people PLEASE get a grip? have you seen the movies that are out today? here’s a good one, how many of you watch those dumb talk shows that are on before dinner? please, your young kids don’t need an in-depth description of oral sex . . . and if any of you have teenagers, forget that, 9 or 10 year olds are talking about this stuff in the playground. i’d love to see how some of you explain sex to your children when the time is appropriate.
Hosea4: “HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE.” I think Jesus said it better. Americans are too nosy. whatever Mr. Clinton does behind closed doors should be his business and Hillary should be the only person to have to deal with him, not 50 million Americans.
carlos6: One of the most valuable lessons children can learn from this is the difference between allegations and documented, substantiated evidence or proof. The country is in crisis over this, and there is moral value in understanding why the truth really is THE important element in our lives.
Ashante: We rarely watch TV and yet I can tell you kids find out about all this stuff from peers at school.
unjust: This entire presidency has been one big bumpy ride. Now it involves my children directly. I’ve been constantly having to educate them on what they’re exposed to: Jerry Springer, Ellen DeGeneres, ‘Real News,’ TV commercials, music videos and ads. it is a ruff fight that seems to be getting harder.
--Compiled by AARON DAVIS