Slate Columnists Revisit 3 Classic Parenting Letters From Care and Feeding Archives
Updated
Updated · Slate · Jun 9
Slate Columnists Revisit 3 Classic Parenting Letters From Care and Feeding Archives
1 articles · Updated · Slate · Jun 9
Summary
Slate’s Care and Feeding column published an archive roundup featuring three past parenting dilemmas, led by a 2019 letter about a grandfather spanking a 5-year-old despite the parents’ no-spanking rule.
Rumaan Alam’s advice backed the father’s anger but called the cutoff from grandparents an overreaction, arguing the bigger cost was to children missing family ties rather than added child-care expenses.
The package also resurfaced a 2019 letter from a parent of 2 children with severe developmental disabilities whose brother refused to serve as backup guardian; Nicole Cliffe said his honesty, though painful, showed he would be a bad choice.
A third archived exchange covered an 11-year-old who wanted to try the Master Cleanse, with Cliffe urging an outright no and recommending parental intervention and medical guidance.
The roundup was framed as a look back at memorable reader questions while inviting new submissions to the parenting advice column.