Thanks But No Thanks Mrs. Mom

This article seems more like an opinion than something that should be featured in the Health section of the New York Times. The entire article is told from the first person and draws upon personal experiences. I've always found it a little taboo to criticize mothers. In my opinion, a mother knows what's best for their child, and if you are going to criticize you better have a good reason and a lot of information to back yourself up.

Although the author, Jane E. Brody, has sources for many of the claims she makes (such as "Randi Jacoby, a speech-language specialist in New York"). A lot of the "data" she draws upon comes from herself and her friends. This would have been okay if she was telling a cute story about a child, but by using what happens to herself and her friends and applying it to the general population, Brody loses credibility.

In my opinion, Brody seems like a preachy grandmother telling her daughter how to raise her kids. Although the advice from the grandmother is probably very good and genuine advice, it is unwanted and very situational.