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  • Essay / The foundations of parenthood: education, reality and physical injuries

    Parenting styles are often based on the parents' beliefs and circumstances. Different choices can affect a child for the rest of their life. In the memoir "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls, the parenting style of Rose Mary and Rex Walls can simply be described as protective towards their children's thoughts, but somewhat lenient when it comes to physical issues. They are extremely focused on raising their children. They also try to protect their children from the harsh realities of the real world. Even though they work so hard to protect their children in this way, physical problems are not a major concern within their family. It is not uncommon for children to be seriously injured due to a lack of focus on the potential consequences of a dangerous situation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original Essay Despite the daily struggle of lack of money, Rose Mary and Rex Walls are determined to educate their children. Rose Mary teaches their children reading and art while Rex Walls teaches their children math and science. They were so successful that Jeannette Walls ended up being significantly better educated than her classmates while living in Blythe. She said, “I was in first grade and my teacher, Miss Cook, always chose me to read aloud when the principal came into class” (44). Their three children are very educated for their age. Both parents also try to hide the harsh aspects of reality from their children. They managed to convince their children that the stars were the best gift they could receive for Christmas, even though they were simply too poor to afford anything. Rex Walls tends to disguise reality more than Rose Mary. He told the children they were constantly moving because FBI agents were chasing him. However, Rose Mary “told them the FBI wasn’t really after Dad; he just liked to say they were because it was more fun having the FBI on his tail than having bill collectors” (19). Rex and Rose thus modified reality to protect their children's emotions. No child would react well to being told that they are too poor for Christmas or that their father can't keep his job because he is an irresponsible alcoholic. These little lies are a feeble attempt to make their lives a little better. Rose Mary and Rex Walls prepare their children for a different future; they know that children will have to work incredibly hard to succeed. If they started now, a chain of poverty could be avoided. Rose Mary and Rex Walls work incredibly hard to try to create a bright future for their children, but both parents seem less concerned about injuries. Their main philosophy is to get it over with when you're young and learn your lesson. This harsh philosophy is displayed even among very young children. Jeannette managed to set herself on fire at the age of three while cooking hot dogs alone. Her younger brother, Brian, fell off the back of the couch and split his head open on the floor just days after the fire. The only comment Rose Mary made about these injuries was "one child at a time in the hospital is enough" (13). This isn't the only time Jeannette was injured as a child: When she was four years old, she fell out of the car while her father was driving. After waiting for some time, she came to the conclusion that "they might decide it wasn't worth.