Jane Cheney Spock
Significant Others
The Story of Ben Spock
Jane Spock suffered a nervous breakdown in 1954. She was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which doctors said had been exacerbated by severe alcoholism. Not even close family members knew she was there. When friends asked where she had gone, Ben simply said she was ill. The hospital was good for her, but the cost of her stay and ongoing medical expenses took a huge bite out of Ben's annual salary. To boost their finances, Ben started writing a parenting advice column for Red Book. Then he got, you guessed it, even more famous.
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