Public Statement

March 18, 2010

In response to recent media articles, which attempt by various means to cast America’s beloved Tasha Tudor in a different and negative light, we have received many sympathetic and encouraging emails and calls, including some asking if Tasha Tudor and Family, Inc. could make a statement regarding this portrayed situation, which admirers and readers perceive as an affront to their long-cherished image of Tasha.

Tasha Tudor and Family, Inc. and those of Tasha’s family who are associated with it, had nothing to do with these “news” articles. We made no contribution and also no comment for the press. 

Tasha Tudor was a wonderful mother who worked hard for her children…Bethany, Seth, Tom, and Efner…and devoted many years to their upbringing. It would be exceedingly difficult to believe that they did not feel great love and closeness to her, or that they did not enjoy and appreciate all the special, magical events of those times.

Tasha’s beautifully written and illustrated stories reflect the reality of her motherhood in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as episodes from her own childhood, all blended with dreams of idyllic lost times in the American rural past. Her particular combination of actual experience and nostalgic longing for peace and fulfillment in a world which will always know the pain of humanity, has for more than half a century provided delight, inspiration, and solace to millions of people the world over.

It is therefore truly disheartening to read unfair, ungrateful, disrespectful, and distorted remarks, made by three of her children who, perhaps encouraged by short-sighted, insensitive, mercenary legal advice, somehow seem to feel that by making efforts to destroy the beauty of Tasha’s legacy to the public, they will eventually acquire some cold monetary reward.

Not only did Tasha work her fingers to the bone to provide what she thought was best for her children, she also helped them greatly in their adult lives; sending them to good schools and colleges, illustrating a number of books written by Efner, and strongly encouraging Bethany in a career of writing children’s stories, for example.

And last, but certainly not least, in light of the current situation, she also gave during her lifetime several million dollars worth of original artwork, antiques, land, buildings, money, and other gifts to these three children who now, after she is dead, make negative criticisms. Yet, reading the lopsided news coverage one would get the impression Tasha had done next to nothing for them.

All the members and employees of Tasha Tudor and Family, Inc., the little business of which Tasha was so proud, took care of her needs since the late 1990s (in the case of some members, for many years prior) and saw to it that she had the best possible final years, given the limitations and changes of old age.

We have tremendous love and respect for her, and are confident that truth and the timeless message of Tasha’s unique life will outshine this dark baseness of cheap, distorted, money-driven sensationalism to which we have regrettably been exposed.

The Tasha Tudor known and revered by so many through her works, is still the same special, magical, and mysterious person. If anything, the public may now have sympathy for a mother who tried so hard to do the right thing for her family, only to receive from some of them, in the end, their thankless disrespect and rejection of her cherished values.

Please note: This statement is a response to requests and is not intended as an invitation from Tasha Tudor and Family to submit questions or debate the issue. Neither Thomas, Bethany nor Efner Tudor have any connection to Tasha  Tudor and Family Inc.