President Obama screwed up: how to talk to your kids about it

March 23, 10:29 AMSt. Louis Family & Parenting ExaminerAngela Atkinson

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Image: Associated Press

We've all heard the news by now--President Obama made an inappropriate comment about the Special Olympics on the Tonight Show Thursday.

While discussing the White House bowling alley, Obama said he had an average bowling score of 129, joking that "it was like the Special Olympics or something."

While the audience laughed, Obama and the White House recognized the flub immediately.

Before the show even aired, the president called Tim Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman, to apologize for the remark.

"I think it's important to see that words hurt and words do matter. And these words that in some respect can be seem as humiliating or a put down to people with special needs do cause pain and they do result in stereotypes," said Tim Shriver of the incident.

Regardless of your feelings about the president, I suggest that you sit down with your kids and discuss this situation. There are a few lessons to be learned here.

Think before you speak. President Obama has no negative feelings about the Special Olympics. In fact, according to White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton, "He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world." The fact is, he made a bad joke that was in poor taste. Had he taken a second to think, he would have avoided the blunder all together.

Even the president makes mistakes. This is also a great opportunity to show your kids that even big, important people like the president of the United States aren't perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, and the best thing we can do is learn from them and move forward.

Respect those who are different from you. We all know how mean kids can be at times. When speaking to your kids about this situation, be sure to tell them about the Special Olympics and what the organization does. This is a good opportunity to explain  how stereotyping can be hurtful, and that one's disability, race, religion or sex aren't things by which to judge a person.