Dear editor:

I have been reading The GUIDON since I moved here in October 2009, and have nothing but good words and thoughts about it, until today, (Feb. 25), when I read the ‘Ask Missy’ section and was terribly disappointed in the wording and insensitive assumptions of Ms.Ovideo regarding the child safety harness. These products are featured in many parenting magazines and parenting books for the safety they provide to the curious toddler or child.

Referring to a child as a dog, that the parents of the child are lazy or that insinuating that they are not paying attention is upsetting to myself as a mother, who uses the child safety harness on my two-year-old son, and to many of my other mom friends.

Yes the child safety harness is a very controversial to some parents, but so are attachment parenting, free-range parenting, breast-feeding or formula feeding, and cloth or disposable diapers. To be a parent you need to grow some thick skin, because you will be criticized for the choices you make that work best for your family.

But as mentioned above, those comments made in ‘Ask Missy’ are very rude and unprofessional, and I expected a better answer to the asked question.

I expect better from someone who is representing spouses at Fort Leonard Wood and surrounding areas, I understand Ms. Ovideo’s opinion is not that of the GUIDON’s, yet I would, and I am sure a lot of other parents would as well, like an apology from the ‘Ask Missy’ section. Referring to our children as dogs, that we are lazy or just not paying attention is uncalled for and very disrespectful.

Thank you sir, for the opportunity to write to you and I hope for better writing in next weeks GUIDON.


Lisa Andrews