I find I have to agree, in part anyway, to both sides of this debate. First I have to say that whenever someone says "because the bible/torah tell's us" I immediatly am turned off. Since I am neither Christian, Jew, or any other relegion (I am a Humanist)I don't get to have some book of stories to guide my life. I run my life by way of just joing the right thing. I am shocked at parents who worship at the alter of the children. What future spouse is able to handle marriage to one of these brats! I was raised by parents who basically hated each other and should never have married let alone stayed together for 35 years. My entire childhood was nothing but fighting, hatrid, name calling, crying, sleepless nights all for the good of the children. The only positive thing I leard from all of this was I vowed to never be like my parents. I am astounded by the people who choose to go on national TV and air their dirty laundry. Shows like Nannie 911, Wife Swap, etc. are so disturbing to me. Sure they all go back two whole months later to check on the progress but let's see them in a year. Another thing I notice on these shows, Shalome in the Home included is a lot of lazy parents. From the way the housekeeping is, to the state of the children's rooms, the crap served at dinner which leads to the overweight, lack of exercise couch potato existance. I work very hard but seem to find the time to cook a decent dinner and keep my house in order and I expect the same from every member of my family. I do it - it's not that difficult and yes sometimes I fall into bed exhausted but it's always a good exhausted. One more thing - money can't buy love. I was in a cell phone store the other day and the family in front of me was buying their 9 year old daughter a $300 cell phone, $99 blue tooth, and a $300 black berry. The little girl was having a fit because the black berry was not the same color as the cell phone and all the parents could do was tell her how sorry they were that they did not match and maybe next year they might come out with a pink black berry and they promised they would buy it for her. Poor baby. One more comment - when are people going to stop quoting JFK? He was not the good boy everyone thinks he was.