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Letters from our Readers

Tell us what you think!

We love to get feedback from our readers. As you can see, some of the articles run in Piedmont Parent can spark some controversial conversation, which is only natural when dealing with a topic such as parenting. There are so many theories and opinions on how to raise our children that we're bombarded every day with new studies and articles from "experts."

Of course, some of the best resources are other parents. Take time to read what our readers have sent in, and feel free to email us with your comments as well. Talking with each other is what will make our PiedmontParent.com community strong!

Pinnochio Parenting, April 2007

I have enjoyed your magazine for over 2 years and have found it very resourceful. I have to say I am OUTRAGED at this article Pinocchio Parenting in your April issue. Okay, we should not lie to our kids, I agree, but the lies that this article claims we parents are making is ridiculous.

"You can be anything you want to be" - is absolutely true. With hard work, determination, and supportive role models, you can.
"It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" -absolutely true. It is all about character and maintaining positive self esteem to try harder to achieve your goal!
"Looks don't matter, it's what's on the inside that counts". How dare this doctor suggest that we as parents fall into building stereotypes for successful roles.

Let me give you an example of a child that has been told all three of these "so-called lies".
Brooke Ellison was a young girl who was tragically hit by an automobile when she was a pre-teen. From her accident, she became a ventilator dependent quadripalegic (the same as the late Christopher Reeve). Her looks - she is confined to a wheelchair with a ventilator in her neck, a foley bag to collect urine hangs on the back of her seat and she can't move a muscle. Her mother supported her determination to succeed in life, telling her that anything is possible. Brooke graduated from Harvard University and ran for the New York state senate. She lost that race - but is still determined to promote stem cell research for people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

This article implies that Brookes parents should have just let her stay home and become a vegetable. THANK GOD we have parents in this world that give our children the positive reinforcement they need to achieve their dreams. I would love to know what Brookes reply to this article would be.

I will pray that this doctor's children are not the adults that we find on the streets in 15 years because he failed to make his children believe in themselves. As an editor of a resourceful magazine and a mother, I surely hope you do not agree with him.

Sincerely,
Michelle