On Friday I dragged the children from their respective bedrooms, confiscated the iPad and the Isobelle Carmody book and FORCED them to watch a one hour tribute to Nelson Mandela.

“This is history, you need to be able to remember where you were when Mandela died, and you bloody well need to know who he was!”.

I probably should have started by playing Free Nelson Mandela at least that would have got the attention of the musical one.

As the tributes poured in for this man I hope my kids absorbed just a little of the important role he played in ending apartheid.

It’s the second time recently I have made them sit down and watch people I think are role models.

Last time it was Malala Yousafzai on the Daily Show. The school girl shot by the Taliban is an articulate young woman who gives an insight into what life becomes when your rights are removed. Yes children, she was arguing for the RIGHT to go to school.

The question of role models is an interesting one. I don’t think some of the people we declare role models are comfortable with the title, they simply go about their lives being true to themselves and following their own set of morals and beliefs and somehow their actions and experiences light the imagination of the public and we bestow upon them an admiration they never sought.

In other areas people, simply by the weight of their popularity, are forced into the role model category and buckle under the pressure.

Miley Cyrus is trying to forge a new identity but the nudity and twerking just seems a bit forced.  And don’t get me started on the Bieber, spitting on your teen fans and turning up two hours late for your concert is running the risk of destroying the meal ticket which gave you the fame and fortune.

In comparison, we joined 40,000 others at the Taylor Swift concert on Wednesday. Now, I’m not a fan, but I’ve got to say surrounded by tweens and teens it was a relief to see a performer who, turned up dead on time, was fully clothed, grateful for her audience and kept it clean. She spoke to the kids about stuff that matters to them, bullying, love, staying true to yourself. While others argue her flawless image and love lorn “poor me” songs are a bad example for young girls I think she gave a classy performance, respectful to her audience and with a kindness that isn’t a bad thing for kids to see.

Do you think it’s important for kids to have role models? Can rock stars be role models?