Many people have different opinions about parenting, usually motivated by deeply personal beliefs. These different perspectives on raising children transform the children themselves into different people with very specific values instilled in them by their parents. The impact of childhood on their development is undoubtedly substantial, but its full effects are rarely understood; studies conducted by Cornell and Louisiana State University have established that parenting style can lead children toward certain characteristics and values later in life ("The Influence of Parenting Styles on Children's Cognitive Development"). The memoir The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls tells the story of Walls' childhood and development under her parents. What makes her childhood unique is her upbringing in a poor family under her unusual parents who made it necessary for her to acquire maturity much earlier than normal children. However, her parents still instilled in her a passion for learning and this, combined with her maturity, allowed her later success in life as a writer. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The reason why people are who they are is largely due to the influence of their parents and their parenting style. Jeannette Walls' parents were extremely relaxed with their parenting, and she and her siblings were free to do as they pleased for much of their childhood. This is first evident when Jeannette makes herself a hot dog, causing herself to catch fire. This freedom allows Lori, Jeannette, Brian, and Maureen to experience greater independence and gain greater responsibility for their actions. The children's independence is shown when Brian argues with Welch, but he does not discuss the matter with his father as he "didn't want to seem like a crybaby" (Walls, 140) as his parents had left him to be independent. . Their father, Rex, once again emphasizes independence as he throws Jeannette into the water so that she knows that “if you don't want to sink you better learn to swim” (Walls, 66). However, the maturity gained through children's freedom allows them to eventually realize their parents' responsibility and childish behavior when they begin to resent them and want to leave. One of the main reasons for the parents' permissive attitude was not only their selfish nature. , but also the fact of wanting the best for your children. Although they were extremely poor, Walls' parents always made sure they had a suitable home to live in; they lived first in the trailer, then in Battle Mountain, the big house in Phoenix, Wales, and with Rex's parents in West Virginia. They also made sure that their children always received an education, as learning was of paramount importance to them. Rex's involvement of children in the design of his great Glass Castle, as well as how "after dinner the whole family would lie down on the benches and floor of the warehouse and read, with the dictionary in the center of the room so we children could look up words we did not know” (Walls, 56), indicates the importance of knowledge and education for Jeannette's parents. Parents' emphasis on the importance of education allows Jeannette and her siblings to become bright, insightful young people who can take advantage of their eventual maturity to become successful individuals later in life. Another aspect of parenting style,.
tags