Analysis Of An American Childhood By Annie Dillard

A Guiding Light In an essay by Annie Dillard called “An American Childhood”, Annie Dillard talks about her childhood growing up. She speaks fondly of her mother and describes the antics that her mother did. Mrs. Dillard relates those antics to the lessons taught to her and her siblings by their mother. These lessons that were taught and instilled in children by their parents is more important than it is thought to be. Positive parental guidance in a child’s life is beneficial in many ways. In contrast, to a rise in the absence of a positive parental figure and the loss of value that it holds. Parental guidance should be held at a higher regard for it is this guidance that brings morals, values, and self-confidence into a child’s life. There …show more content…
Some might argue that it is not about how a child is raised, but rather of one’s character. Addicts for example, some say that they were born with addictive personalities. Sure it is a very real possibility that a person can have an addictive personality, but I often wonder if that person had a positive figure in their life that could have helped them. Maybe they could have directed their personality traits to a more positive outlet or just steered them in a better direction. In addition to the growing lack of constructive parental guidance, the value of parental guidance is decreasing drastically. I believe people just have forgotten that parents are quite a bit wiser than you think. Some might believe they know what is better than their parents do. I think there should be a reminder that your parents have lived a lot more life than you have. So they know how the outcome can be and they just want you to make the best choices. Though there has become a dangerous cycle of absent parent figures. Parental guidance does not always have to come from a parent. It can come from a grandparent, friend, sibling, or just about anyone is a good influence on one’s life. Positive guidance, I believe, can always be useful not matter where it comes from. In conclusion, parental guidance should be held at a higher regard