Not long ago, we received an e-mail with some startling information. No, not that we were due several million dollars in lottery winnings from the Republic of Cameroon, although that was certainly nice to know.

It was from Dr. Andrew Adesman, a pediatrician and the author of the new book "babyfacts." This was interesting for two reasons. The first is that e.e. cummings, evidently, is still alive and working as a book title adviser. The second is that the book says there are many things parents believe that are not true.

For example, in the e-mail, titled "Parenting myths ever mother needs to know," the doctor says it's not true that kids can't go swimming right after they eat or that sitting too close to the TV will hurt their eyes.

But why is the doctor's debunking of these myths aimed only at mothers? In honor of Father's Day, we'll present our own list of parental myths.

1.) Your children will listen to what you say. This is a little bit of fiction perpetuated by many earnest public service announcements that assure us that we can actually influence kids' behavior. The creators of these spots have obviously never looked into the eyes of children as you, their father, dispense good advice on money, jobs, social life or education. It's a look that says, "I haven't texted anyone in two enTIRE minutes." 2.) Your children depend on you for important technical information. Your children - we don't care if they are not yet potty trained, we do not care if they have not yet started to eat solid food, we do not care if their belly buttons have not healed yet - know more about all forms of media than you. Their brains are pliable and adaptable. Yours is the consistency of a week-old baguette. At this very moment, Phoebe Adele Gates, age 7, is rolling her eyes as dad Bill is trying to explain to her what's wrong with Apple.

3.) Following your example, your children will take up some of the tasks of household upkeep. (Isn't that the traditional justification for having children in the first place, that they'll help with the chores?) We have tried from time to time to convince our children that, hey, you know you can't really learn to drive properly before you have learned how to take a corner safely with a lawnmower. And, here, let us show you how to operate the pull starter on the weed whacker, just for fun. It has not worked.

There are certainly more, but debunking these has decided something for us. Our particular children are not going to get any of those winnings from Cameroon.

TOM REILLY is a Sun Chronicle news editor. He can be reached at 508-236-0332 or at treilly@thesunchronicle.com. Read his blog at thesunchronicle.com/reilly (as soon as his daughters explain to him how this blogging gizmo works.)