Editor’s note: This letter refers to a letter published on the Web Jan. 18 and in The Reporter print edition Jan. 22.

I don’t have children, but, at one time, I was one.

As an adult, I see and hear how parents, good and bad, treat children.

I know and knew then that nothing makes a greater difference in children’s lives than adults who teach them by example.

I’m not suggesting that Brandon is a bad parent, I don’t know him from Adam.

But, the examples he uses suggest simply giving children the benefit of a good education.

A good education is useful, but, it also makes a tremendous difference if it is coupled with an exceptional example.

Listening, showing them you care about them and about others, respecting them and their choices, trusting them, allowing them to be themselves, letting them make mistakes and forgiving them for having done so, and supporting them in their efforts to be the best they can be will take them at least as far, if not further than a good education and moral grounding alone.

Telling them right from wrong is one thing. Showing them, trusting them and being tough enough on them to expect them to do right is another. While I don’t have children, I know that raising them is hard work and those who undertake the responsibility deserve equal respect and support – it’s not easy.

I also know that children are unbelievably resourceful, and can find lessons good or bad where we adults least expect them. So, it seems a little unfair to see only bad examples in some of these activities as Brandon did.

I am not athletic, but, I know there are many positive lessons to be learned in sports, from technology, from entertainment, the Internet: teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, determination, healthy habits, self esteem, confidence, self reliance, leadership and on and on.

I have no rose colored glasses to suggest that it’s a perfect world they’re growing up in. It’s not, in many ways it’s as difficult as it was before the era of instant communication and 24-seven access. All the more reason they’ll need to not only learn what we learned as children, but also to be equally defiant in search of their own tools and talents for a new era of complexity.

In agreement with Brandon, I’m not giving money, not because I don’t think the causes are worthwhile, I do. But, because we, my wife and I, like many others in this economy, don’t have the money to give.

Mike Moore

Kent