I'm seriously considering keeping my kids home tomorrow.

[Mother Of Four]

Sitting on the desk in my den is a yellow piece of paper. It's a permission slip. Yes, a permission slip to sit and listen to the President give a speech to our kids.

A permission slip?

I don't recall having to sign anything before, I don't recall my parents having to sign anything. Not for the surgeon general in the 80's...not for R, GHWB, GWB....None of them.

I haven't decided yet, I think maybe I'll talk to my kiddos about it in the morning before school. I have a 13 (just turned) girl, a soon to be 15 girl and a 17 boy still in school. (my 18 graduated last year)

Here are my thoughts...

I don't want them to be surrounded by sneerers or closed-minded people. I want them to watch what I consider a historic occasion (A self made man of unique background putting himself to the test and eventually becoming the President) of someone who's BEEN THERE telling my kids to stay in school, work hard, take responsibility and anything is possible.

This time it means something, it really means something special and I want them to feel that without worrying about others around them.

This is why I'm torn: I don't want a single person counting us as people who kept ours home in "protest" to the speech. I'm dang proud of the changes made in our home over the years, and we hold our heads up high with it. Enlightenment has a way of doing that for you.

The other reason I'm torn...is what about the other kids in class that are watching it who have a background like my family? Shouldn't we think of solidarity as well?

How sad is it, that we have to think in those terms?

I read another post about a parent who is keeping their child home, but is anyone else feeling like I'm feeling? Torn?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. I'm showing it live

[Mother Of Four]

3. I'm not sure I understand....

YOu're keeping your kids home tomorrow and watching it live?

Or you're showing it somewhere live?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

23. in the classroom

[Matariki]

2. Don't keep them home. That doesn't make any sense.

Especially because you don't "want them to be surrounded by close-minded people".

[Mother Of Four]

5. Uhm...

Since you decided to just pick at the lack of the "d" on closed-minded...

I fixed it for you.

[Matariki]

10. I didn't even notice that, I must have made the same mistake, lol

I meant that protecting your kids from closed minded people by keeping them out of school makes little sense. Plus your action would be most likely interpreted as disapproval your kids hearing Obama's speech.

[Mother Of Four]

15. True-

Downthread Tangerine gave a really cool response, and I'm going to go with her/his suggestion :)

[JohnnyLib2]

22. Glad to hear it.

:thumbsup:

[rucky]

4. Isn't it crazy how out-of-control this has all turned?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. Sign the slip,

send them to school, and later, when you all have time - or, MAKE time - and sit down with them and make sure they understand what happened, how people behaved, why they did what they did, and how they are going to have to learn to be vigilant all their lives regarding people who would choose to limit their choices.

Your turn to educate your kids, and this is a marvelous opportunity to bring them into the living political world.

Lucky kids....................................

[Mother Of Four]

7. Thank you-

I really appreciate the response, and you're probably right.

Just had the thought also that I might be a little too overprotective in this as well.

:hug:

It's hard not to be torn, we live in a little town of about 5k people. (North Carolina)

[Tangerine LaBamba]

19. Education is everywhere,

not only in the schools, and I think what you're doing with your kids - what you will do - is going to help create a trio of politically hip and sophisticated kids who are never going to forget this - as well they shouldn't.

As I said elsewhere, there are some remarkable, thoughtful, insightful, and conscientious parents here at DU. Very impressive.

Good luck, and make sure you come back here and tell what your kids thought of the speech, what the other kids in their school think of all this fuss.

You have to wonder how much the kids understand and what they're hearing at home, don't you?

Scary stuff, indeed, being a parent, but you're really something.

:toast:

[NYC_SKP]

9. +1 n/t

[Mother Of Four]

13. I wish I could rec the response LOL ---

That one response made me go "Yep"

If only all threads could be answered so quickly and well :)

[depakid]

17. +2 and I'll do you one better

We have friends in Britain and Australia who are telling their kids what happened in the United States- and how they have to be careful to ensure that their countries never get like this.

[xchrom]

8. so don't send them. -- ya know?

life is tough. -- no one 'protected kids from 'duck and cover' or kennedy's assassination or whole host of events that were all really teachable moments.

this is another moment in a a whole host of moments that will happen -- but keep them home if you want -- nothing earth shattering will happen if you do.

[saltpoint]

11. You could leave your kids in the temporary care of Barack and Michelle Obama.

I doubt if you'd feel nearly as confidant with the Bushes or the Cheneys.

I'd sign the yellow permission slip and attach a signing statement to the effect that you resent having to grant parental permission allowing your children to listen to an intelligent and inspiring man who happens to be our First Citizen.

I'd clear the path for your kids to hear Obama and then I'd let the administrators hear an earful.

[MrModerate]

12. I write somewhere on the slip: "Of course I give permission for my child . . .

to listen to the president of the United States encourage them to work hard and stay in school. Who gave you permission to suggest otherwise?"

[Critters2]

21. Agreed. Why TF does this warrant a permission slip? nt

[kentuck]

14. What do your kids think about it?

Are they attuned to what is happening? I have a hunch they probably agree with their Mom? :-)

[Mother Of Four]

20. We're all on the same page --

I hadn't talked to them about staying home though, I was thinking about it till the response up-thread. They all want to see it, even my 18 who isn't in school anymore. (He goes into the Navy in Oct.)

My 13 is the one who brought home the slip, thing is...she had no clue what it meant to have to sign the slip. She just said "Mama, you need to sign this"

Tangerine is right though, the reactions of the people around them and the lesson it'll provide is important as well.

Who knows...maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised, and like the younger set that shook off the stagnation- helping President Obama get elected also opened the eyes of the even younger ones.

[Kittycat]

16. My school isn't showing it.

Several of the schools in the Chicago suburbs originally opted out. Most have since recinded (even as late as tonight), and are giving parents the option to pull their child out if notification is voluntarily provided (no permission slips). My son's school, however, has remained firm in not viewing it - until they do. Then they'll still allow the teachers the option of showing it, if it is approved. We weren't even notified that they weren't showing it until Friday by robocall, and a notice posted to the district website. Therefore, I made the decision to pull my child out during the speech, so that he could view it here at home. Then I'm returning him to school. We're only a couple blocks from school - so it's easy enough for me to get him back there.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

18. Good for you -

what a great learning experience this is for your son. When you get the chance to explain to him how this whole mess unfolded, imagine what an impression it's going to make on him!

You're raising a boy who's going to be VERY politically savvy, and for that, you should take a bow.

:toast:

(Boy, there are some terrific parents here at DU! I'm so impressed............)

[seabeyond]

24. i took one to school and will take the other in a couple minutes. i want them to hear the sneers

and comments. i want them to hear the kids that accept. i want them to listen to what the teacher does adn see how others handle this. and i want them to have the opportunity to speak out and give their expression in the whole drama of the thing.

LET your kids be a part of this.

if you dont think they will get enough from speech let them listen again at home

mine... have already heard keep ass in school, do really really well, .... or your ass is in trouble. dont need to hear it from obama