How Much Training Does It Take To Raise A Child?

A Back-Seat Mother writes to Dear Prudence regarding her husband, an elementary education professor, and his mother, a child psychologist. Instead of consulting with his wife, the husband/father, himself an expert in children, consults with a professional, his child psychologist mother:

I feel like I haven't been given the opportunity to test out my maternal instincts or skills since our first child was born…they [husband/father and his mother] are more like colleagues consulting with each other….I know they may be experts when it comes to childhood issues, but shouldn't I be given the opportunity…even if I do mess up?

Dear Prudence responds as if professionals raising children is a problem. In this day of highly specialized fields professionals will of course do the raising of children. Instead of viewing this as a problem, the mother should be thankful that her daughter is so lucky as to have a professional for a father. Many children have to go to professional, but this child only need see her father. It is only logical that such an expert would consult another expert and not a layman like the mother. This mother needs to stop thinking of herself. Her husband and his mother received years of training before they could ruin a child’s life, and yet this mother wants to do it with no training at all.

If this mother turned to Catism she could become a follower of the Founder and Glorious Leader of Catism The Cat Gergiev, follow the example of others, without violating a cat's rights, and live a full life serving cats.

What To Do About Deadly Cat Food Still On Shelves

In these days of deadly cat food the Founder and Glorious Leader of Catism The Cat Gergiev has dutifully reported on the number one issue facing cats right now on a daily basis. The Menu Food cat food recall has resulted in documented deaths, company distortions, and much more.

A most important post by The Cat Gergiev is "Cat Food That Is Not Recalled." This contains information to start research on safe cat food. It is not easy and simple, but when there is still deadly cat food on store shelves there is no alternative.

Catism must not be ignored.

What To Do If Your Co-Workers Bore You

How To Get Included When Co-Workers Leave You Out addressed Amy's question to Ask Amy about what to do regarding naked women in e-mail forwards at work that she did not receive.

Typical of most advice columnists, Ask Amy, or the asking Amy, left out many details. Anonymous mentions one such scenario that may arise.

As I wrote to the asking Amy:

You need to assess yourself. Why are you growing intolerant? Why are you so afraid of porn? Why are you embarrassed by it? Is it your parents? School? Are you afraid of sexuality?

Once the asking Amy assesses herself she might conclude with the assessment that commentor Anonymous takes up:

Some people just find porn boring rather than offensive.

In the case where Amy finds porn boring she should begin yawning as her co-workers discuss their porn pictures around the water cooler, and tell them, "Could we possibly discuss something more boring? Like work?" Should they protest, she may then tell them that she understands because her son, cousin, nephew, or brother used to find porn exciting. Then he turned 16 and started dating girls, which he found to be much more exciting, and she is sure they will eventually grow into real pursuits. She could then offer to provide them all dating advice for $25 an hour per person in a group session. She will then making money during her lunch break.

How To Get Included When Co-Workers Leave You Out

Amy writes to Ask Amy on what to do about naked women in e-mail forwards at work that she does not receive:

[T]hey do not send them to me (though I have seen one or two), but they do discuss these e-mails in front of me, laughing when I get upset....I have joked around with the guys in the past....do I have to completely abandon my sense of humor and basically threaten them with harassment charges? It's a small office and we've worked together for years. I just find myself growing less tolerant....

Ask Amy replies:

It sounds like you have a pretty good relationship with your coworkers....simply point out that it's just not funny to you....If this more conversational approach doesn't make an impact, you could also probably do something more formal through your HR office. Many workplaces have policies against viewing porn, etc....on their dime and through their accounts. Also, this cumulative behavior can count as sexual harassment -- even though it's not intended that way, or at least you don't seem to be interpreting it that way -- it is part of creating a hostile work environment.

Pierre replies:

If you listen to Ask Amy, you will find there is nothing like going to the human resources department in a small office, which probably does not have an HR deparment because it is a small office.

You need to assess yourself. Why are you growing intolerant? Why are you so afraid of porn? Why are you embarrassed by it? Is it your parents? School? Are you afraid of sexuality? If you are afraid, you must stop living in fear because porn has seeped into American culture, but you seem to have been closing your eyes to it. Why not open you eyes and engage in meaningful discussion with your co-workers about something they care about? Instead of seeing sexual harassment accumulating, you should demand that the glass ceiling be shattered and that the men send you the forwards so that you can better discuss the pictures with them.

Veterinarian Pukay Give Wrong Advice In The Ottawa Citizen

In the Ottawa Citizen, a reader writes to ask:

Both my parents are from the "old country" and neither believes in having dogs or cats neutered. They prefer to have our two-year-old tomcat remain intact and "natural" as "nature had intended" (in their words). How do I convince my parents that it is in the cat's own best interest to be neutered? Maybe you could list all the benefits of neutering male cats in your column and I could show it to them.

Dr. Bernhard Pukay, an Ottawa veterinarian, answers:

Most pet owners are aware their pets should be neutered....In short, neutering is also the responsible thing to do.

Unfortunately, Pukay has only perpetuated a falsity that is in opposition to Catism thereby misinforming the reader. The Founder and Glorious Leader of Catism The Cat Gergiev has written, "TNR is trap-neuter-return, a policy that robs cats of their reproductive rights." The parents of the reader of the Ottawa Citizen should not neuter a cat because it is against the cat's reproductive freedom. If Pukay thinks neutering is so great then why did he neglect to say he himself is neutered?