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I really enjoyed Christine's post on Betty Draper because I've also found Betty's interactions with her kids fascinating. I don't have children of my own but have watched close friends and my own husband raise theirs with equal fascination.
Where is the happy medium?
On one hand, Betty can be cold and distant and seemingly ruthless when it comes to discipline. She's a housewife not by choice but by social conventions; she may be a stay-at-home mom, but the kids are not going to be the center of her world.
Contrast that with parents today -- both housewives and househusbands -- who more often than not choose to stay at home precisely to make their kids the center of their universe.
They may find Betty's behavior horrifying, but four times out of five I'd rather babysit her children than theirs. Consider this:
-- Betty's kids can entertain themselves.
-- Betty's kids don't need constant positive reinforcement.
-- Betty's kids don't crumble when they are scolded.
-- Betty's kids are willful without being disrespectful.
-- Betty's kids know they are not the center of anyone's universe.
I fault Betty mainly for not being affectionate. If she were, she'd be closer to the Latin style of mothering. It calls for smothering your kids with hugs and kisses while refusing to take any crap from them.
My own mother never indulged too much -- she even chased after my sister and me with a fly swatter every now and then -- and the message was always clear: "There are limits. Deal with it." We still love our mother to death.
Of course, Betty's kids could use some of her make-up hugging and kissing.
My own mother never indulged too much -- she even chased after my sister and me with a fly swatter every now and then -- and the message was always clear: "There are limits. Deal with it." We still love our mother to death.
Of course, Betty's kids could use some of her make-up hugging and kissing.
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Mia Navarro
Mia Navarro is a New York Times reporter based in New York, where she covers the environment. She is also the author of Green Wedding.... more
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