What Really Happened To Lealan's Life?

LeAlan had a rough home life. His mother had a mental illness and so his grandmother became his main caregiver. Adolescence is already a time of turmoil and apparent dislike for authority figures. Although LeAlan had those more troubling behaviors, he also expresses his love for his grandmother. “One thing I think about almost every night is what it would be like if my grandmother died. Sometimes I have a dream that god calls her….I might act bad around her and get mad at her, but deep down I love my grandmother” (Jones, et al., 1997, p. 55). This is not only a confession of love, but one of need. “Adolescents are willing to accept their parents rules as legitimate when they agree that the issue is a moral one or one involving safety” (Steinberg, 2016, p.97), this is most likely the case with his grandmother. He understands where she is coming from and knows that he needs her in his life. LeAlan also recognizes all that his grandmother has sacrificed for his benefit. This definitely is a strength in his family. …show more content…
“Why are we dependent on other folks to take care of us? Why can’t we be independent instead of dependent?” (Jones, et al., 1997, p. 160). This quote highlights how LeAlan feels about autonomy and authority; he doesn’t believe he should be a dependent to anyone. This is evident in his interactions with his family too. When LeAlan’s mom describes him, she says “you tell Jeri she need to be quiet or Jermaine he’s acting like a fool. And you tell me how I shouldn’t give Janell my cigarettes” (Jones, et al., 1997, p. 58). This shows that LeAlan, regardless of being a dependent, tells everybody else what to do. He is very centered on his way is best for everyone and shares his opinion with his family. Although this may not create a tight knit family, what LeAlan is saying is generally regarded as positive change for the entire familial