“In 2012, 397,000 children were in foster care, a 30 percent decline from the 1999 peak of 567,000, and a number lower than any seen in the past 25 years. In 2014, the number had increased to 415,000” (“Foster Care” 1). Children in foster care are taken out of their homes because something is wrong with how they were living. These children need a good parent-child relationship. There are many studies on the correlation between parent-child relationships, and the outcome of a child. Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd show that the introduction of a positive parental role model to a child, formally in an unfit situation, can change the child’s future and is critical for the child’s development.
Living …show more content…
Lily Owens started in an unfit situation, with a father who does not seem to love her. “I'd been kneeling on grits since I was six, but I never got used to the powdered- glass feeling beneath my skin. I walked toward them with those tiny feather steps you expect of a girl in Japan, and lowered myself to the floor, determined not to cry, but the sting was already gathering in my eyes” (Kidd 24). This is how her father, T. Ray punishes Lily, kneeling on a mound of grits. It leaves her knees swollen with red welts and pinprick bruises on her knees. “Let T. Ray love me” (Kidd 164). Lily just wants love, especially from her father. T. Ray doesn't care much about Lily, and doesn't pay attention to her unless she does something wrong. Lily has grown into a strong young lady with the help of August Boatwright and the Calendar sisters. “‘We're going home,’ he said. I didn't answer him, but walked over to Our Lady where she lay on the floor and lifted her upright. I could feel August and Rosaleen outside the door, could almost hear their breathing. I touched my cheek. It was swelling where he'd hit me. ‘I'm staying here,’ I said. ‘I'm not leaving’” (Kidd 296). T. Ray is trying to bring Lily home, but she was strong and told him no. She is not scared to stand up to him anymore. “This is the moment I remember clearest of all – how I stood in the driveway looking back at [August, Rosaleen, and the Daughters]. I remember the sight of them, standing there waiting. All these women, all this love, waiting” (Kidd 229). Lily looks at these women as mothers and moons shining down on her. Lily has the strength now to stand up for herself and not care what others think of her. Lily Owens started in an unhealthy situation with her father, and found August to be a positive parental role model, who changed her
Living …show more content…
Lily Owens started in an unfit situation, with a father who does not seem to love her. “I'd been kneeling on grits since I was six, but I never got used to the powdered- glass feeling beneath my skin. I walked toward them with those tiny feather steps you expect of a girl in Japan, and lowered myself to the floor, determined not to cry, but the sting was already gathering in my eyes” (Kidd 24). This is how her father, T. Ray punishes Lily, kneeling on a mound of grits. It leaves her knees swollen with red welts and pinprick bruises on her knees. “Let T. Ray love me” (Kidd 164). Lily just wants love, especially from her father. T. Ray doesn't care much about Lily, and doesn't pay attention to her unless she does something wrong. Lily has grown into a strong young lady with the help of August Boatwright and the Calendar sisters. “‘We're going home,’ he said. I didn't answer him, but walked over to Our Lady where she lay on the floor and lifted her upright. I could feel August and Rosaleen outside the door, could almost hear their breathing. I touched my cheek. It was swelling where he'd hit me. ‘I'm staying here,’ I said. ‘I'm not leaving’” (Kidd 296). T. Ray is trying to bring Lily home, but she was strong and told him no. She is not scared to stand up to him anymore. “This is the moment I remember clearest of all – how I stood in the driveway looking back at [August, Rosaleen, and the Daughters]. I remember the sight of them, standing there waiting. All these women, all this love, waiting” (Kidd 229). Lily looks at these women as mothers and moons shining down on her. Lily has the strength now to stand up for herself and not care what others think of her. Lily Owens started in an unhealthy situation with her father, and found August to be a positive parental role model, who changed her