Most parents have read The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister. The story of a  fish with irridescent scales who refuses to share with the other children. Well, that's what the PR folks at the publishing company want you to believe. I'm going to give you a new perspective that will show you the real lesson of the book and it probably isn't something you want taught to your kids!

As parents, we are responsible for the morals and traditions handed down to our children. We have a duty to review what they read, what they watch, and what they hear to ensure it has a message we are open to sharing with our kids. With that in mind, imagine the following scenario:

Your child is about seven years old and has made you proud. She is polite, intelligent, beautiful, and a role model for other children. You have given her an heirloom that is passed down through the generations to all children in the family. Its a beautiful heirloom that most kids would love to have themselves. But it is unique to your family. A mark of your lineage, so to speak, and it has been entrusted to your daughter.

Now imagine that despite the amazing qualities of your daughter, she is having trouble finding friends at a new school. For some reason, it just isn't working out yet. The other children are asking your daugther for the heirloom you gave to her. They want it for themselves. At first, your daughter says she can't part with it. It was a gift from her parents and she is responsible for it. They other children get mad and still won't be her friend. In an act of desperation, your daugther goes to the principal and asks for advice. The principal says, "friends are important and you want to be cool. If you have to bribe the kids to be your friend, that's okay. Being popular is important." So she goes back out to the playground and starts handing out pieces of your family heirloom as a way to make friends.

When your daughter comes home, you -the parent- have learned the following things:

1. Your daughter loved the day at school!
2. Her principal isn't fit to lead a parade, let alone children.
3. Your family heirloom was bartered on a playground.
4. Your daughter still doesn't have any real friends.
5. You need to start looking for a new school.
6. Oh, and she also traded her home made sandwich for cavity-causing candy.

The next time you think about reading "The Rainbow Fish" to your kids, remember its real lesson: Being popular is more important than your family and you should do anything to be one of the cool kids.