http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Renewal/story?id=2247280&page=1

Thanks, Ken, for posting a stand-alone piece on that unfortunate part of Kat's past.

Nothing...I repeat nothing...can demolish the psyche of a child more than being called stupid. When that happens, it haunts you for life and likely will give you self-esteem issues later in life. And it really shows the unfortunate side of the world when we give that automatic belittlement of a child just because they're having troubles reading. Sometimes there's much more to a problem than intellectual difficulties. I'm really surprised teachers would get away with saying such a thing to Kat as a kid...but whether that's a part of the L.A. sensibility in generalizing people, I don't know. Eyesight should be the first thing to look into if a child's having trouble reading rather than quickly assuming it's a lack of mental ability.

This was just one of several stunning (and overly personal) things Kat mentioned in that Dr. Ablow clip. That feeling toward her father also felt uncomfortable and overly brave of Kat. But to add on to my comment on that yesterday: The 'sternness' Dr. Ablow suggested Dan had that Kat feared may have been justified. After thinking about it a little yesterday, I realized that Kat, after all,l was growing up in Hollywood. It's a potboiler for young people getting easily roped into a life they may regret without some strong sense of direction in their life. You can be sure that Dan was aware of a lot of young girls working in the biz who descended into the madness of drugs, promiscuity, etc., etc. He wasn't about to let Kat and Adriana get that way--so he had to be strict to keep them in line. That might be hard to understand for a young girl, but I think it worked. Look at the solid principles Kat's held in her life and will hopefully always hold.

To me, that interview showed even deeper proof of how great of parents the McPhees really were. Teachers belittling Kat's reading skills would have been out of their hands...though I'm sure they tried to amend the situation. If it wasn't for them, they may not have discovered that Kat's problem was due to eyesight.

Kat's had to deal with tough love in her family and tough situations. But it made her a better person for it. It seems almost necessary in order to make a person have better insights into the meaning of life.

Thanks again Ken for sharing that with us.

I agreed completely.  Between Kat's difficulties reading and her bumilia battle, she could have easily ended up going down many dark roads.  Fortunately, hert loving, caring family gave her all of the support she needed and more to not only overcome those difficulties and come to terms with them, but allow them to be a lesson for millions of Americans out there.

I give so much credit to Mama and Papa McPhee, they're some of the best parents.  (Not to mention they gave us our Kat!)

Yea, after seeing even just a few minutes of this interview, my whole demeanor towards Kat changed.

I mean, we all knew she was juts a regular kid. She dealt with eating disorders, she shared common issues. But the whole reading thing and "not being smart enough" stuff, really hit close to home. I'm sure that at one time in our lives, everyone on the face of this hurt has felt this pain, and to know that Kat had to deal with that crap too, makes her even more real.

She's a real kid with real issues...can't wait to see the whole thing on TV when it airs!

I am confused. The link doesn't mention Papa McPhee. Where did you learn he was a strict parent?

KATS PARENTS ARE THE BEST EXAMPLE OF WHAT TRUE FAMILY VALUES
ARE ALL ABOUT. BLESS THEM FOR THE GREAT EXAMPLE THEY GIVE OUT!!!!!

You are so right CEM-STEVE, Kat's parents do have good values and you can see how wonderfully it rubbed off on dear Katharine and her sister. They are so refreshing in this day and age.

Dr. Keith Ablow mentioned this in the 'GMA' interview with Diane Sawyer. Apparently this is revealed by Kat more in the interview, though it wasn't shown in the clips on 'GMA.' Dr. Ablow says at one point to DS: "He apparently was a strict parent", which may not give a full picture, but it makes sense when you put it in the context I did in my last post.

Tough love can be something that makes kids think the parents are being too strict, when it's sometimes necessary in certain situations. I've heard it's always hard to find that balance as a parent. When growing up in Hollywood, though, with so many spoiled kids right and left (can you say David Foster's stepsons as perfect examples? )--a smart parent will make sure their child gets the best possible principles grilled into them at an early age.

The best thing about doing that is if you start early, it'll be more apt to stay with the daughter (or son) for life. I know there has to be a conscious will to keep it going too...but Kat's life has been set up just right to keep it going.

We don't know for sure, but Kat's illnesses and struggles may have helped her keep those principles that can sometimes get easily lost when working in show business or living in L.A. Every little thing was in balance in her life for a reason to make her the best person she could possibly be.

I am not sure but I really would prefer to talk about Kat's interviews that are going on just now and not about past problems in her childhood. I don't know any kid that doesn't have problems at some time or another or in actual fact, believe they have had problems. Some also have pretty bad problems and come out of it whole and healthy. Kellie for instance seemed to have had a pretty bad childhood with her Mom taking off and her Dad going to Prison. Luckily she had grandparents who could take her in but some kids don't even have that.

Certainly all the crying Kat's dad did during the show was strange to say the least.

Just my opinion so don't go bashing me for it.

"I am not sure but I really would prefer to talk about Kat's interviews that are going on just now and not about past problems in her childhood. I don't know any kid that doesn't have problems at some time or another or in actual fact, believe they have had problems. Some also have pretty bad problems and come out of it whole and healthy. Kellie for instance seemed to have had a pretty bad childhood with her Mom taking off and her Dad going to Prison. Luckily she had grandparents who could take her in but some kids don't even have that.

Certainly all the crying Kat's dad did during the show was strange to say the least.

Just my opinion so don't go bashing me for it. "



To negate any potential conflicts around here, it is probably best to net end your statement with "don't bash me" because it implies what you may think about the rest of us in terms of defensiveness...and not in a positive light. It just causes more problems.

I think we all want to know as much about Kat as possible to understand how she became the glorious individual she is now.

Kat's fathers crying was not strange at all. My father was very strict but also sentimental and did the same thing. He is just so proud and shows it with tears in his eyes. Most girls would love to see that in their fathers....

I completely agree with you GHH. It WASN'T weird when her Papa McPhee cried. It kinda moved me also. He cares about her so much and believes in her! It was really great. I mean, he was seeing his daughter achieve her dream she has had since she was a little girl.

My mother and father  are strict on me, and its because they care for me and believe in me.  They care about my music career, grades, etc. because if they know i try, i could be a straight A student, which the past year has been the case. I can relate to kat with being the pretty stupid girl during elementary school. same story basically. i mean..not completely stupid, but i had reading troubles also. (which are no longer there). my father and mother support me 100 percent and are strict with curfews (like kat said in teenpeople), grades, and other parts of my life that need it. stress comes on a lot with stuff like that and im not saying i have not had any troubles with stress..because i have had a lot. but i know my parents are always there for me.

Her dad's crying was entirely appropriate.