Where Children Take on Parent’s Role

Re the editorial, “Whose Job to Supervise the Children?” (Aug. 30): I was taken by the sub-headline: “Parental Responsibility Shouldn’t End at Entrance to Disneyland, Other Amusements.”

It didn’t end at the entrance to Knott’s Berry Farm during the mid-’50s. It ended at me, the eldest male (at 10) and the eldest female at the “ripe old age” of 8. Terese and I were the oldest of our divorced mother’s five children.

Since I was 9, our mother worked at a full-time and a part-time job. It fell to Terese and me--mostly Terese--to look after the younger ones.

Knott’s Berry Farm meant so much to our mother in those days, especially during the Christmas season when she could drop us at the farm, drive one block and spend way too much on us in the name of Santa Claus at nearby Buena Park Center.

We never caused Knott’s Berry Farm any trouble. Oh, and she didn’t just drop us off. She always made sure that I had enough money to feed us and treat all of us to a couple of the attractions.

F.J. GUARNERA

Laguna Beach