I have been a follower of the columns of the Chicago Tribune’s Barbara Brotman for many years.
I have always appreciated Brotman’s humor and perspective on the rearing of her two daughters.
(I also have two daughters.)
I heard Brotman speak at our local Woman’s Club here in Wilmette back in the mid-’90s, where she entertained us with stories dealing with common parenting issues. She was a terrific speaker.
I must say, however, that she dropped the ball with “Baby’s first body piercing; On a mission: When Snookums decides that what her bellybutton needs is some stylish ornamentation, what are her parents to do?” (Commentary, Sept. 27).
No matter how much Brotman wants to rationalize this visit to the tattoo and piercing parlor as an interesting lesson in tradeoffs and emotional growth for baby Snookums, the bottom line is she and her husband caved in.
The message is clearly “whining works.”
I am fully aware how hard it is to say no to your child and stick with it.
But Brotman should have stuck with her first instincts–16 years old is too young for pierced bellybuttons.
There are all kinds of good risks out there for children of that age:
New sports.
New friends.
New classes.
Let her learn about those first.
