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Posted by Jackie Morgan MacDougall on Sept. 10, 2009

Unless you're living under a rock this week, you heard about -- or perhaps participated in -- the biggest battle to hit politics since, well... last year's election. But this time, the disagreement was over something as simple as Obama addressing kids via a televised message to be shown in schools.

WHAT? The president of the United States wants to talk to OUR children? The travesty!

That reaction may seem a bit dramatic, but it's really not too far off from those who were against the idea of Barack Obama's plan. It was like they had been told that Osama Bin Laden would be sitting down at the lunch table and sharing a PB & J sandwich during recess. I just couldn't understand the response.

But instead of just writing the angry moms off, chocking it up to more political ignorance, I asked around. I was relieved to find out that not too many moms I know were actually part of the ticked-off crowd, instead feeling totally good about having the president's message brought directly to their child. But there were a few who were ready to fight as soon as I brought it up. The main issue I heard?

What will he say?

Wait, are you worried that the leader of the free world is going to convince your third grader to agree with his new health care plan (even when you don't) or suddenly get the idea to be shipped off to the Middle East? When, in the history of our country, has a president inappropriately addressed kids, sharing any of his own agenda?

Of course the speech would be age-appropriate and motivational. If the moms had done a little research, they would've seen that the transcript was available practically everywhere and they could find out easily what scary words would be permeating their children's precious ears. It's as if they forgot that they send their kids to school every day to be taught by people they hardly know, and to socialize with kids who come from families who could be totally different from their own, expressing their own separate views. But now's the time you want to know each and every word that's uttered in the direction of your kid? I think you might be a little late there, mama.

I grew up in a time and a household where kids were told that the president - whoever he may be at the time - was a smart, respected, powerful man. I remember the time I got my "autographed" photo of Ronald Reagan after my grade school class all wrote letters and sent them off to the White House. It didn't matter that my parents were staunch Democrats; they let me believe that the president and everyone else in the U.S. were united in wanting what was best for our country. (It was also a time where we played outside alone until the street lights came on, a very different world from today.)

Should parents today be like mine, letting kids create their own views of the world and politics? With all the Bush-hating, war-debating, health care-stopping opinions flying loud and proud, is it even reasonable to think kids wouldn't catch on?

Los Angeles-based family therapist Stacy Kaiser says it's fine for parents to share their views with their kids -- it's tough not to. But we should remember that research shows that kids do take on the political views of their parents.

"Encouraging discussion about and also sharing both sides of an issue are good ways to help kids learn to figure out their own point of view. Politically passionate parents can't hide their feelings. Their kids overhear them on the phone, talking to others, etc."

Don't forget, cautions Kaiser: If the child doesn't agree with his parents' feelings, he might feel uncomfortable sharing his own thoughts and opinion with them about certain issues. Also, parents should realize that the child could repeatwhat they've heard during or after school and receive an unexpected backlash from teachers and friends.

So before you toss that "Honk if you hate {insert political group here]" sticker on your hybrid SUV, remember... while you have a right to your own opinion, your child does too.

Maybe someday we'll be able to get back to the way things were, creating a level of admiration and respect for those in powerful positions, no matter what we believe ourselves. I think it's good for our kids and good for our country. Besides, if there's anyone you want to keep out of our kids' schools and off their TVs, it's that purple dinosaur. 'Cause Barney's the one I really worry about.

Jackie Morgan MacDougall, on the never-ending quest for balance, enjoys life in Los Angeles with her husband, Jeff, and their three small kids. Read more of her take on parenting, kids and everything else on The Silver Whining.