Should the Obama kids be allowed to watch the Kardashians?

The First Couple disagree over whether their daughters should "keep up with" the vapid reality TV beauties — prompting a parenting debate

'The Kardashians' reality show
(Image credit: CC BY: The White House)

Are Malia and Sasha Obama keeping up with the Kardashians? It depends, apparently, on which parent they ask for permission to watch. In an interview with iVillage, Michelle Obama reveals that the President would prefer that the kids steer clear of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which follows the famous-for-being-famous family as they traipse, bicker, and party through L.A. The First Lady's own position is more lenient: "I sort of feel like if we're talking about [the show]," then it's suitable viewing. "If they're learning the right lessons" — concluding, for instance, that the Kardashian antics are "crazy" — "then I'm like, okay." Which parent's take on the Kardashian conundrum is right?

The First Lady wins: Mrs. Obama is taking the right approach here, says Allison Berry at TIME. Most moms would agree that it is impossible to keep children "in a protective bubble, unaware of pop culture," and it is wise of the First Lady to not even try. Instead, her method is the one that all parents should follow for any TV series: Sitting down to discuss what they just watched together.

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