bleh.rb

class Parent < ActiveRecord::Base
 # assume there's a varchar field on the table called "name"
 def name
   puts "Holla from tha Parent!"
   super
   read_attribute(:name) || "default value!"
 end
end

class Child < Parent
  def name
    puts "Holla from tha Child!"
    super
  end
end

irb> c = Child.find(123)
  Child Load (0.5ms)  SELECT "parents".* FROM "parents" WHERE "parents"."type" IN ('Child') AND "parents"."id" = $1 LIMIT 1  [["id", 123]]
 => #<Child id: 123, type: "Child", name: nil>
irb> c.name
Holla from tha Child!
=> nil