Dear Ann Landers,
I am twelve years old, and although I am not smart I have learned a few things that some parents have not learned yet. When I was younger and my mom or dad said to me, You can't have that, I would get mad and say to myself, Boy, they are mean! When I have children of my own I'm going to buy them everything they want so they will be happy. Two weeks ago my sister Barbara came to visit and brought her children. Barbara's husband is rich, and the kids are spoiled and don't appreciate anything. They break their toys as fast as they get them, and then they start on the furniture. They are big complainers and cry a lot. They don't mind worth a hoot. My sister Libby's kids are exactly the opposite. They don't get many toys, but they are tickled to death with whatever they get. They take good care of their belongings and never seem to break anything. Libby's kids hardly ever cry and seem happy all the time. They mind their parents and are respectful to other people. Also, they are good to each other, and Barbara's kids are like killing each other ten times a day. Now I know why kids get spoiled, and I am going to raise my children to be like Libby's.-Miss Watcher

Dear Miss,
You are smarter at twelve than most mothers are at thirty-five. When the time comes, I hope you will prac-tice what you are preaching today.