[Land of the Freep]

This is a snippet of the Yahoo story on the HIV Muppet:

“The Muppet character will join the cast of the children's show [in South Africa] in September to help educate children about AIDS at the urging of the South African government.

Some 4.7 million South Africans — one in nine — are HIV positive, more people than in any other country in the world.

There are no plans to incorporate an HIV-positive Muppet in the American or other versions of the show, said representatives of Sesame Workshop, its New York-based production company.”

---

It doesn’t appear that the lovable HIV Muppet will appear on the American TV version, so you shouldn't have to protect your children from it, or explain this very difficult issue to them.

But I was thinking that maybe this Muppet was the least or your problems. How do you explain away the deaths of two (possibly) beloved uncles to them without dealing with this issue eventually? Weren’t the uncles more lovable and real (and thus more dangerous to your children’s innocence about this subject) than any puppet that Sesame Street could ever create?

I totally understand wanting to protect them from subject matter on television that might make give them the wrong message or make you uncomfortable. But how do you shield them from the tragic HIV realities of your own family?

[kjenerette]

Of course, this is something I will deal with on my terms with my children....not on Sesame Street producers timeline or anyone elses. I have a pretty good grasp on reality(military - world-etc.) and I don't need my pre-schoolers told by some 'outsider' about family matters. Period. I'm so glad that so many people are concerned about 'my' children...please remember one important overriding point. I AM THEIR MOTHER.

Katherine