Parental Control

 

PHOTO BY SARAH KELLY

You wouldn’t expect a woman who co-authored a book on how to raise children to have none of her own, but that’s the story of 54-year-old Kristan Leatherman. Millionaire Babies or Bankrupt Brats was released in June and can be found online at http://millionairebabiesonline.com or by e-mailing kristanleatherman@sbcglobal.net to avoid shipping costs for locals. The book “should be used as a reference” on how to raise your children to be independent, especially financially, Leatherman said. She spent many years in Baltimore, where she met her husband while they were both working at a TV station, before moving west for the scenery. After her husband had a horseback-riding accident in Wyoming, he decided he wanted to be a doctor in a small town, and they decided Chico was the perfect fit.

What is the best advice someone has given you?

Jim Fay, my co-author has a wonderful phrase that he uses: “We need to be careful to not addict our children to a lifestyle they won’t be able to afford as adults.” That is a profound statement that I use in my practice.

What inspired you to go into parental counseling, considering you have no children of your own?

When I was teaching, I worked so hard with one of my students to build up his self confidence during the day when I had him in the classroom. But then I realized that it could all be undone at night when he went home to his parents. I guess you could say I had an epiphany and that’s when I made the switch to helping parents raise their children.

Do you feel pressure from the people around you to act a certain way?

I try to be myself as often as possible. I think sometimes if I see a mom I’ve counseled at the grocery store with her children, she will feel pressure to act a certain way. But that pressure is not coming from me. That’s coming from her.

Describe an experience that has led you to where you are today in your career.

I was a young child and my mom took me to the library to see Robert McCloskey, who wrote Make Way for Little Ducklings. After he read the book, I stood in line for him to sign my book. I was so wide-eyed, and in that moment I decided I wanted to write a book. I didn’t know what I would write about or when, but it was a defining moment in my childhood.

What parenting advice would you give Britney Spears?

It’s kind of a day late and a dollar short. But if she still had her children, I would help her love herself so that she could love her children.

More stories by this author...

Growing Up Chico Magazine Article-Spring '09 Issue

Here's another interview with Kristan, in the Colorado Springs Gazette

Two years ago, Kristan was encouraged to pursue the topic of kids and money based, in part, by her audiences response to her workshops. It was these newspaper interviews that gave birth to the Raising Millionaire Babies Book and Project.