Building Character

Sherri Mandell reviews Kay S. Hymowitz’s book Ready or Not: Why Treating Children as Small Adults Endangers Their Future-- and Ours

Ten Myths about Raising Moral Children in a Complex World :- 1. My bright, articulate child can distinguish between what she wants and what she needs. 2. It is respectful and appropriate to continue all discussions with my child until she understands my rationale for what I want her to do...or not to do. 3. If they just try hard enough, and receive enough parental support, every child can become a neurosurgeon.

"Oh My God! I'm my father!" my best friend screamed as he bolted into my dorm room. He had been shaving his beard and had left just the mustache to see how it would look. He ran straight to my bathroom and stood there staring at his reflection in the mirror. "Your mirror is not malfunctioning, my friend," I said, as I looked over his shoulder, "you do look like your father." He quickly shaved off the mustache and headed back to his room. "That was way too scary," he said, "remind me never to do that again." Parents: More Than Just Genes? My friends and I talk about our parents all the time.