So, Whats new on TV?

OK, like most every other person in the free world, there has not been a place I could hide this week from the Starr Report or the release of Clinton's testimony (available soon at Blockbuster). Like most people, I've been saturated with information and am ready for some relief. As a parent, I wish the same for my kids. I had thought about staying away from this topic but unfortunately the media won't let me ignore it. Neither will my kids. Let me preface by saying this will not be a discussion of morality, a cry for impeachment, or a bipartisan political debate. What interests me most about this latest media circus is how if affects our kids, and as parents, how we handle the questions they have.

Unless your kids are under the age of three or you live in a remote region of some distant third world country, they are being bombarded along with the rest of us with information about Bill and Monica. And it's not just general tidbits, it's juicy stuff. Remember when Gary Hart lost his bid for ever gaining the Democratic nomination just by being seen on a boat named Monkey Business? We didn't know, didn't want to know, and didn't have to know all that went on and our kids were oblivious. Not true anymore.

Myself, I am in the unfortunate position of having children ranging in ages from nine to eighteen so I have to meet each of their questions and opinions on their age level. This is no simple task. My youngest child is not nearly as inquisitive about what Clinton did as she is about my opinion of what he did. Her classmates at school split up into groups crying either for impeachment or to leave him alone, usually echoing the opinions of their parents. With younger children, I think it's more important to reassure them if they have concerns but don't try to explain in detail what has happened. I have always believed that you should approach children on their level and not try to make them grown up before their time. That's why the television and movie industry use ratings, so we as parents can be aware of what our children are watching. We should use the same wisdom in deciding what we tell our children.

My teenagers are far more complex. My older teens, 17 & 18, have very strong opinions about both the President and Ms. Lewinsky. Its interesting to me though at their age, their opinions are based on the basis of the affair itself. They aren't looking at the deficit, or the unemployment rate, or foreign policy, nadda. Bottom line, he did wrong, he lied about it, case closed. In the discussions we have had I simply try to listen and let them form their own opinions. As if I could change a teenagers mind anyway! Occasionally, given the opportunity, I might point out things they may have missed along the way so they can form their position based on something other than misinformation. I try to remind them that both the President and Monica are just human beings and as such make mistakes. They also have to be held accountable for their mistakes just as we do. It makes for some interesting discussions. Does Clinton need to be held accountable to the American people for what transpires in his personal life, or just to his family? I don't want to spark a debate here, I am just throwing out some questions that have come up at home.

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