I doubt strongly that your children are going to watch the President's four hour grand jury testimony--on TV, on the Internet, or on a rented video (expect this video's imminent arrival in stores). But they may very well see excerpts of this testimony on television and on the Internet.

During his sworn testimony, Mr. Clinton staunchly and shamefully evades direct questions about his alleged extramarital "sexual relations." He also says that he can't recall many events he is questioned about. His actions are similar to how many people respond when they are caught lying about their own bad behavior. He is desperately trying to escape the consequences of his actions.

If age-appropriate, I would use the president's responses to focus on three important ways we respond when we are caught lying:

• A rose is a rose. Mr. Clinton attempts to wiggle out of admitting that he had "sexual relations" with Ms. Lewinsky by saying that "sexual relations" means sexual intercourse only, and that he did not engage in that. He and everyone else knows that what he did with Ms. Lewinsky is considered "sexual relations." You can tell your kids that "playing around with language" doesn't change what someone did. Like if they secretly took someone's property and called it borrowing instead of what it was--stealing. A moral/ethical lesson here is that dodging the truth with semantic gymnastics, legal or otherwise, is wrong.

• Omission is lying. In this video we see the President say that he didn't volunteer information that he wasn't directly asked about. He even chastises and derides prosecutors for not asking better questions. While this strategy may be legally correct and "savvy," it should be called what it is--lying. Children need to know that when you withhold information that is pertinent, then you are deceiving people and lying to them. Keeping bad things that you have done from people, even if you are not asked directly about them, means you are living lies.

• Hiding behind not remembering. Saying we don't recall or remember may be a truthful response in some instances. It may be hard to remember every detail about things in the past. But just because we don't remember every detail does not mean we can hide behind not remembering the "basics" of what transpired in given situations. Explain to your kids that saying they can't remember only those things that might get them into trouble is hard if not impossible to believe. Again, legally this might prove smart, but in everyday life this is not how to redeem yourself.

I'd ask your kids what they think about the President's semantic dodging, omissions, and lack of recall. Role-play some situations where you both employ these tactics, then role play them again by telling the truth.