In regard to the Sunday, Oct. 17, article in the Family section entitled “Tossing and turning on the issue of the family bed,” experts in the childrearing field convincingly present their opposing sides of the issue. I agree with James McKenna when he states that it is beneficial — emotionally and psychologically — for children to be able to be in the comfort of their parents at night.
Fortunately, my parents agree with this view. There have been many occasions since I was a baby when I have been scared, and they have not hesitated to open their door to me. My brother and I were raised with the notion that even though we have our own rooms, with our own beds, there was always another place we could go if we were afraid.
I feel that because of this lifestyle, we have grown more accustomed to our parents’ comfort, with the only side effect being that we have developed a very close-knit family. Because of my own experience, I can’t understand why a parent would refuse this simple request from her child only because there is a very slim risk involved.
I feel that if a child wants to sleep with his or her parents, there should be no problem, and if the parent is really concerned with any possible dangers, she should let the child fall asleep next to her and then move the baby into his crib. That way the child gets the security he needs through not only the night but through his entire childhood, and parents don’t have to be concerned with their tossing and turning.
— Lindsay Shea, Clarendon Hills
CREATIVE PLAYMATES
I was very interested in the article on imaginary friends (“Fantasy friends,” Oct. 17). I had one named “Guppy.” She played with me and went on vacations with us. One summer when I was 5, we were on vacation in Colorado. For some reason I got angry with Guppy and figuratively kicked her out of the car and, I suppose, down a mountainside. I never saw her again.
Only one of my grandchildren had imaginary friends. This grandchild would just sit in the swing, flipping her fingers of both hands in her hair and talk and talk for 15 to 30 minutes at a time. When you asked her who she was talking to, she would reply, “Big Fat Moseys.” The family moved to Wisconsin when she was 5, and she told me that she left all of the hundred Big Fat Moseys at my house.
But I did see her flipping her hair after she moved (maybe till she was 7). She said she did bring a few of them with her after all, but most were still in Illinois.
— Alice Birzetis, Naperville
———-
UP NEXT
The death of a beloved family pet can be difficult. Do you think it’s a good idea to replace the pet immediately, or is it better to wait awhile? Is there something that can be done to ease the grieving process?
BACKGROUND: In today’s Family section, the issue of pet euthanasia is explored. Dr. Amir Shanan, a veterinarian who performs pet euthanasia in the family home, says the human-animal bond is a variant of the family relationship that has been grossly underrated by human health professionals.
———-
Send your response to Chicago Tribune Family section, 5th Floor Features, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611, or e-mail us at ctc-family@tribune.com.
