Letters to the Editor
momof2
Published Letters: 56 Editor's Choice: 2
-
@WarLord
[Read the article: India's "womb rental" industry]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hmm, yes, it's so simple when you simplify it like that and top it off with a witty, semi-apt analogy.
"You bought a kid" (that's made from some or all of you and your partner's genetic material so "the kid" in question is also technically YOURS)
"from a poor person"(who, no matter how hard she worked in her lifetime, probably would never see that kind of money in one lump sum. Who, in the story in question and in most cases, has received excellent medical care and nourishment. Most importantly, the choice to become a surrogate was made of free will, uncoerced by anyone else.)
"for the convenience", (are you the arbiter of "convenience"? who defines this so-called convenience? People who choose surrogacy tend not to be the type of people who choose this "for convenience" because they don't want to mess up their "lady bits" and have to make it to their next manicure appointment by 3. It's usually because they have exhausted all other methods or other methods are simply not available to them, as with a gay couple. Just sayin.)
"sorta like having the barista make you a decaf latte" (except that it's absolutely nothing like that.)
Is there potential for exploitation of surrogate mothers? Absolutely. There is potential. But I don't think the transaction is by definition exploitive, any more then factory work is by definition exploitive.
-
the anti-mom
[Read the article: Slave to the boob tube]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Well, I guess I'm the anti-mom. I let my kids, 2 and 4, watch the preschool cable channel we have in the morning as we're getting ready and in the afternoon as they unwind after preschool, probably about 2 hrs in the morning and two hours in the evening.
I turn it off for supper and we usually make it to the park before or after they unwind.
Here are a few interesting observations about my "unlimited tv" kids:
1)They rarely watch more than one show. After that, they usually like to go off and do something else like draw, play dress up, pretend, etc. They come back and forth.
2) My two year old likes Dora but I've never seen Dora involved in any of her play to the extent that it takes over her imagination. She has one Dora doll that she likes to play with occasionally, but that's it. My older one hates Dora.
3) I don't usually watch with them, but they do call me in sometimes to show me something they just saw and their excited about (an interesting animal or a funny scene).
4)There are absolutely no violent shows on this channel and if occasionally we turn to the cartoon channel or something like that, my daughter cannot tolerate it. So I don't see any desensitizing at all.
In short, I really don't see my children suffering any deficits from their tv habit. They are both very sensitive, imaginative, healthy, emotionally aware little girls who love pretend play and park play. And they also watch tv.
-
The dogs have to go
[Read the article: I'm living in filth!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I agree it's borderline abuse to keep three untrained dogs in an apt.
And you wonder why you have problems?
The first solution is to get rid of them. Then work on the other things after you start your job.
-
@rampart
[Read the article: Slave to the boob tube]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Well, of course anything could happen. But so far, I have two children who are fluently bi-lingual, totally proportionate for their age, weight and height, very athletic and agile, warm and loving, endlessly curious and imaginative and basically very busy children. So I'm not sure what kind of "control" I would need to determine what "could be" without television. Am I damaging their chances of becoming Nobel prize winning physicists? Possibly, but considering that thanks to Blue's Clues, my two year old can correctly identify a trapezoid, it's unlikely.
Put it this way- I'd much rather give them the time to unwind and relax- (ie: let them watch tv) then drive them crazy running them around to a million activities. I think the latter contributes to a lot more neurosis and psych problems then any damage that could possibly be caused by preschool tv (btw, you misquoted my post. I didn't say it was completely unfettered- they only watch shows for children aged 2-6.)
-
@amerigo
[Read the article: Slave to the boob tube]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ok, so what's the difference between you and your iPod and children who only watch DVD's or commercial free kiddie channels?
They are not exposed to commercials and, at least in the case of DVDs, but also 95% of the shows on kiddie channels, the shows are pretty carefully chosen. So how is this different then an iPod playing all day?
-
lateagain, rampart
[Read the article: Slave to the boob tube]
[Read more letters about this article: Here](OT: lateagain, is your username from the peter, paul and mary album of the same name? Just curious).
Regarding research: It's pretty hard to avoid the "latest" research unless you live in a cave watching mtv all day! (ha!). And, as far as research goes, I tend to take these things with a grain of salt. Sociological research is far, far from an exact science. I don't think any research can control for all variables in any person's life.
I think there are many contributing factors to behavior difficulties in children, tv being one, but only one of them. I think tv in the context of a home the emphasizes education, sensitivity, emotional bonding, physical activity and creativity is a very different thing from tv in a home that lacks most or all of these things.
rampart: my point was not to extol my children's perfection, rather it was to ask why the need for a "control" set of kids for comparison if I have yet to see any deficits from their tv watching. I certainly will rethink my stance if difficulties arise at any point.
Just for clarification: I live overseas, so maybe they don't have this in the states, but my kids only watch a commercial free channel with shows for kids aged 2-6.
Just as I don't think breastmilk = Nobel prize winner, I also don't think tv= hardened, obese criminal.