Just How Bad is the World's Worst Mom?

A few years back, I had a brief meeting with Lenore Skenazy when she was writing for the latest incarnation of the New York Sun when it was still in its print edition (she still occasionally writes a piece for the now online-only publication).  She had gotten my name from one of her many contacts, and briefly picked my brain for background information on a particular topic; she used it as fodder for one of her articles.

Lenore subsequently gained notoriety as the "World's Worst Mom" when she wrote about how she allowed her 9-year old son Izzy to ride home alone on the New York City subway system.

I received an e-mail from Lenore .  She now is advancing from her Free Range Kids website to a reality show entitled, of course, "World's Worst Mom." Lenore has obviously kept my e-mail address along with all of the others she has accumulated.  She is promoting her new show.

I am not suggesting that there is a "one size fits all" approach to parenting.  I am not denying that too many parents give too many liberties to their children.   What is undeniable, however, is that too many children are being raised without learning how to reason for themselves, without learning how to solve their own problems.  I see a rising generation of children who have an external locus of control.  We are raising a generation of automatons  who are naturals for a despotic takeover.

Whatever might be said about Lenore's method of parenting, it is the antithesis of raising wimps for children.

And so, while I will not necessarily endorse all of Lenore's parenting decisions, I will use this opportunity to plug her "World's Worst Mom" show.  A sample clip is to be found here.  The show premieres tomorrow on Discovery Life at 9 PM Eastern.

Best of luck to you, Lenore!