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Family matters: take 3

SARAH HAMPSON

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 8:30 AM EST 04/10/07

Overshadowed by her demanding mother and her competitive sister, Rona Maynard felt unheard and misunderstood as a child. Now, the ex-Chatelaine editor follows in their footsteps with a memoir, giving voice to her side of the story ...Read the full article

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  1. Janis Ken from London, Canada writes: Of course I have only read this article and not the whole book but how can you caption the story by talking about her 'horrific' childhood. All I have read is that she had a screwed up Mother and Father and a competitive sister. Many people start life off that way and don't write a book about it. Was there abuse of some kind that is not mentioned in the article? Let's reserve such words as 'horrific' for really bad childhoods and not just dysfunctional ones. By the way, who is this family? I have been in Canada for over 20 years and have never heard of them so why would I want to read a book about them. Sorry but this article left me puzzled.
  2. garlick toast from mill village, Canada writes: i think the smothers brothers covered this subject more succinctly''mom always liked you better'.
  3. Dianne Wood from Newmarket, Canada writes: Rona's mom Fredelle was my parenting expert when I started my family 25 years ago. I read her books and I went to hear her speak a few times on parenting. I truly enjoyed her perspective. I kind of wish her daughters had of left her alone though for now they have me second guessing myself on whether I should have done this and that with my kids since her kids seem to think they are so messed up because of her. Fredelle helped me realize the importance of giving my children good paper to work with so they could write and express themselves. She talked about binding the books our children prodiced as little kids and praising them. One thing that sticks in my mind is that she said there is one place in life where we should push our children, in their music lessons. She had the audience raise their hand if they wish they had of been pushed to continue practicing the piano. Most rasied their hands. She was different than the other parenting experts out there in those days. She taught us to trust our instincts. Let's face it Rona, you wouldn't be where you are if it was not for your mother. She pushed you to succeed and you have. We all feel jealous at our siblings, and it goes all the way back to the beginning with the children of Adam and Eve. And we all have hurts from our parents, but that is because we see the past from our own egotistic eyes and do not realize all that our parents were dealing with, though you have tried to explain that in your book, as your mom did in hers. We all just have to just get over it and move on and forget the past. Sure we can write a book for therapeutic reasons, but why not just get on with it. Your mom was my mentor, my guru, my teacher. I wish she had of been my mom. She was trying to do her best.
  4. Dianne Wood from Newmarket, Canada writes: Rona's mom Fredelle was my parenting expert when I started my family 25 years ago. I read her books and I went to hear her speak a few times on parenting. I truly enjoyed her perspective. I kind of wish her daughters had of left her alone though for now they have me second guessing myself on whether I should have done this and that with my kids since her kids seem to think they are so messed up because of her. Fredelle helped me realize the importance of giving my children good paper to work with so they could write and express themselves. She talked about binding the books our children prodiced as little kids and praising them. One thing that sticks in my mind is that she said there is one place in life where we should push our children, in their music lessons. She had the audience raise their hand if they wish they had of been pushed to continue practicing the piano. Most rasied their hands. She was different than the other parenting experts out there in those days. She taught us to trust our instincts. Let's face it Rona, you wouldn't be where you are if it was not for your mother. She pushed you to succeed and you have. We all feel jealous at our siblings, and it goes all the way back to the beginning with the children of Adam and Eve. And we all have hurts from our parents, but that is because we see the past from our own egotistic eyes and do not realize all that our parents were dealing with, though you have tried to explain that in your book, as your mom did in hers. We all just have to just get over it and move on and forget the past. Sure we can write a book for therapeutic reasons, but why not just get on with it. Your mom was my mentor, my guru, my teacher. I wish she had of been my mom. She was trying to do her best.
  5. CD W from orillia, Canada writes: What? Women who cant get along? Go figure.

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