Hooked on Phonics--Gag me with a Spoon!

Have you seen the commercial for Hooked on Phonics where there are several moms sitting in a waiting room and most of the children are playing but one little boy is sitting with his mom reading a book aloud. One of the other moms says, "How old is he?" The kid's mom says, "He just turned 4." Other mom says, "Is he in kindergarten?" Another mom pipes in, "How did you teach him?" The kid's mom says in a totally pompous, my-kid-is-better-than-yours way, "We've been practicing." I want to puke every time I see this commercial. It's like she has this big secret and no way is she going to tell these other moms how she got her kid reading. First of all, this commercial was clearly made by a real mom of a preschooler because this is TOTALLY realistic as far as the other moms wanting to know how this kid is reading and the mom with the reader being all holier-than-thou because her kid can read. However, if it were me that had the reader (at 4 years old and I used Hooked on Phonics) this is how the conversation would go.

How did you teach him to read?
Me: Oh my gosh! We got these totally awesome Hooked on Phonics tapes at a garage sale for $3.00 and I really didn't think they would work but my kid ended up just loving them and now he can read simple books. It is amazing. You should go to e-bay and see if there are any there!

Then I would tell my kid, "Why are you sitting here reading when there are 10 other kids around!? Go play and make some friends. When you are 16 you aren't going to have a girlfriend because you'll have your nose buried in a book."

Just kidding. I love to read and my kids enjoy reading. But, I have learned a lesson. There is no real reason to force reading on a kid at an early age. (Don't leave me a mean message--I know some children just want to learn when they are 3.) When they start kindergarten, they all start in the same book on the same page whether they can read "Gone with the Wind" or don't even know their letters. Easy for me to say, I suppose, because I have kids that seem to love to learn.

Anyway, I sure hate that commercial.

Just a note--I don't have a problem with Hooked on Phonics. I have a problem with the commercial. Mainly because it plays on the insecurites of over protective, crazy moms like myself.