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Post by Lauren Mastropaolo on Dec 30, 2013 21:17:12 GMT
Throughout the book we see Chick and his mother's relationship. His mother loves and cares for him so much but most of the time Chick pushes her away. For example, when she brings him to college. His mother was very happy and excited for him, she got dressed up and she even made him a huge breakfast. She took him around campus saying things about where he could study,eat, hangout, etc. Chick, however, was embarrassed of her when she took him to college. Chick pushed her away and he was trying to tell her to leave. He told her she did not have to go to his dorm with him.
When Chick learns that his mother used to clean houses as a job when he was gone, he was shocked. He could not believe that she had become a cleaning lady. I don't know why he was so embarrassed, she took that job to support Roberta and him. She was doing her most important job, being a mother.
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Post by Sara Helgans on Jan 9, 2014 22:50:05 GMT
I completely agree with Lauren, in that she is doing her job as a mother. But something has to be wrong here because I don't understand how someone could be embarrassed of a women who was both his mother and his father figure. The only thing I am able to comprehend is the lack of chick having a father, although he still acted like he did when he had his father. Chick practically grew up with two girls, and I guess he needs a man in his life to teach him direction, but the question is, would he still be acting like this if his father returned to his life?
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Post by Josh Rosenbaum on Jan 9, 2014 23:49:17 GMT
I feel that if his father returned and was in the picture, Chick probably would've resented both of them, like any other rebellious teenager (or even adult at this point). His people-pleasing attitude towards his dad was a normal reaction - or I can stand behind it somewhat - Sometimes I feel like I have to use the happy and agreeable mask in front of my own dad, but only because I want him to keep the barely evident connection we have now. I bet Chick feels the same way. If he pleases his dad (even if he had to bail on his mom - now, I wouldn't do that), then why would he be out of Chick's life completely? He also sees his own father as the model for himself - and obviously his mother not so much, being a woman and men want their fathers as role models and so on...
However, Chick doesn't realize the extent of how much his mother really shaped him as an individual. It's a shock as to how his mom still stands by his side and reassures him that "Things will be fixed". Like Sara said, she definitely played both parents in this scenario - that deserves some respect back. Chick's only embarrassed because of his insecurity of not having the role models that most men have.
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Post by Hanna Da'Mes on Jan 10, 2014 3:43:51 GMT
I have to disagree with Josh about how he said Chick would have resented both of his parents if his father re-entered his life. I feel like if that was so, Chick would try his absolute hardest to return things back to normal-even if that wasn't completely the case. I think he would still strive for recognition from his father, and still be embarrassed by his mother-but also respect her. I think Chick respected his mother wholeheartedly, he was just hesitant to exhibit it. I also think that he takes the anger and resentment he has for his father and puts it on his mother because she is a much easier target.
Josh said, "Chick's only embarrassed because of his insecurity of not having the role models that most men have." I agree with this completely. Chick tries to block out all sentimental emotions, becoming similar to his father.
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Post by Rachel Phillips on Jan 10, 2014 3:53:56 GMT
I completely agree with Josh. If my father had left my life and all of a sudden decided to come back in I would resent him. Even though kids and even myself are always trying to impress there fathers, most children and teens do, the fathers are the ones most the time who push them, scare them, encourage to do better. That random decision to come back to my life would either leave me ignoring my father or put on that mask. I feel like even if you favor one parent over the other you can always have a mask on, its is honestly one thing that can drive a child or a teen crazy. But Chick instead of resenting his father like I would ended up going back into his "baseball life" that was the only thing they had in common, and brought them somewhat together, when it ended so did there short lived relationship.
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Post by Kaitlyn Jehle on Jan 10, 2014 4:05:06 GMT
I think that it's amazing that no matter how Chick treats his mother, she is still there for him always. Her love and affection is demonstrated through all of the little notes she has given to him. He appreciates her more now because he was given the chance to see her again after her death. When his mother dropped him off to college he brushed her off as some people walked by, showing that he is pushing her away and is ashamed to only have a mother and no father. I agree with Sara about how he's embarrassed that he only had a mother and not a father. Shouldn't that make someone grateful to still have that one person to be both a mother and a father
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