To Angie Wagner
I was sick to my stomach after reading your column on your "attempts" to keep your child in a diaper. I have raised a lot of children in my life and defying the adult role model is natural for all of them. To allow this child to become the person ruling your household is dangerous and particularly sad for your future dealings with her. How you ever became a public voice for child rearing (and actually get paid for doing so) is beyond me and, unfortunately, leads me to understand what is so wrong with the children who have been brought up in homes that are permissive of inexcusable behavior.
If you are so concerned about this child using your home and furnishings as her own personal outhouse, buy some cloth diapers and pin those things on her, lady! After you've experienced the drudgery of rinsing out and washing those cloth diapers day in and day out as we had to do years ago, maybe you won't be quite so lenient with your daughters "cute antics."
Karen
Cooper
coopertr@aol.com