JB: I can't wait to read this book, Katy. Before we wrap this up, what haven't we covered yet?
KR: It's a big subject. The one suggestion I guess I would have for people is to get in the habit of holding everything they hear about parenting, as well as their own assumptions, up for questioning. We're bombarded with information -- some just cultural myth, but much of it supposedly based on scientific research -- that is actually quite sketchy. It's also a subject people already have strong opinions about: They've been parents or they've had parents or they've seen parents on TV. I would suggest that people pause to cross-examine that information and those opinions. Can I trust this source? How do I know I know this? If something is true for Child X or Parent Y, can I be sure it also applies in Situation Z? Families are more complex and variable than we often give them credit for being.
JB: You make many valid points, Katy. Thanks so much for talking with me and good luck to you!
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Katy's website
The original Salon piece.
The version that ran in the newspaper
Here and here are two articles Katy wrote questioning "scientific" parenting research
Katy's Twitter link: https://twitter.com/Katy_Read
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).