As to the Mad About You fracas, after reading everything about the show ( we
sold the TV when my son was born in 1994, but I heard all about the episode)
my conclusion is thus:  some people have the compassion necessary to meet a
child's awesome needs, and some do not.  Too bad you have to pass a test and
get a license to drive a car or be a For-God's-Sake dog groomer, but any
unsavory can have a child.  Parenting that gives good modeling, that teaches
our kids to listen to children, is THE ONLY way we can change parenting
behavior in the long run.

So bravo to all of you out there who are doing not only that immense, job, but
also helping to educate others about this responsibility:  your children are
the ones my child will seek out in his lifetime, and mine yours--humans who
have internalized the self-love neccessary to truly love and respect others,
and seek out attachment and intimacy in their relationships.  I wish all of
you the warmest holiday closeness.

"I always feel that we keep our childhood locked inside, in a hidden cabinet.
We carry it with us, and we see it most clearly in those moments when we are
able to feel passionately responsive to children.  Some people, I think, have
buried their childhood, or they have done something terrible:  They have
murdered it.  These are the sad characters one sees passing by an innocent
face and open little arms with indifference; or else with a bad conscience."

-----Magda Von Hattinberg


Joy Berry-Parks
LLLLeader, Little Rock AR
Attachment Parenting Group of AR
Anthropology student