Tanorexia: Mom Talk

The New Jersey Tanning Mom raises questions about how to parent.

So let's assume that Patricia Krentcil did not bring her 6-year-old daughter into the tanning bed. Her daughter's school nurse reportedly believes otherwise. Her attorney is asking the world not to judge a book by its cover. That's tough to do when this book is leather bound. Setting aside the fact that she looks like a baseball glove with lipstick and a wig, her situation calls to light a number of questions. If we, ourselves, are so misguided about something — regardless of what it may be — that calls into question our own parenting skills. For example, if Krentcil needs to tan for 12 minutes 20 times a month, as the salon owner claims she does, what kinds of messages is she sending to her daughter about appearance and self esteem? Not …

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