Reading The Lovely Bones was a completely different experience 5 years ago than it is now that I have precious little babies. I literally stopped reading and got out of bed to check on them last night.
I hate to admit this, because I heard it from my mom a couple times during some teenage "I'll-be-fine-just-let-me-go" encounters, and from other friends who were parents before me, but parenthood gives you a completely different perspective.
I now worry not only about the safety of myself, but my kids also. Back when I read the book the first time, I think I considered myself as the little girl, Suzie, even though she was only 14. This time, I identify with her parents and the horror of losing a child.
Even in less morbid cases, it's so true that we become "parents"-- even if not duplicates of our own parents-- much easier and faster than we expect. Have you ever listened in disbelief as your own words echoed back through your head? Did I really just say that? I sound like my mother!
I'm going to keep reading, mainly because the movie looks amazing and I want to reread the book before I see it, but also as a lesson to myself: Maybe our parents did know what they were talking about...in a couple instances, at least.
I hate to admit this, because I heard it from my mom a couple times during some teenage "I'll-be-fine-just-let-me-go" encounters, and from other friends who were parents before me, but parenthood gives you a completely different perspective.
I now worry not only about the safety of myself, but my kids also. Back when I read the book the first time, I think I considered myself as the little girl, Suzie, even though she was only 14. This time, I identify with her parents and the horror of losing a child.
Even in less morbid cases, it's so true that we become "parents"-- even if not duplicates of our own parents-- much easier and faster than we expect. Have you ever listened in disbelief as your own words echoed back through your head? Did I really just say that? I sound like my mother!
I'm going to keep reading, mainly because the movie looks amazing and I want to reread the book before I see it, but also as a lesson to myself: Maybe our parents did know what they were talking about...in a couple instances, at least.
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