Average Rating: 8.0Sara: 8.0 - (from Chicago) Enjoyed story. Characters were arrogant, wanted more background on the situation. Encouraged by story on how to overcome challenges. Wished that these tragedies could be healed by more than money.
Rebecca: 8.0 - Enjoyed the book. Would like to recommend the story to others with past abuse. Felt that the mother left many things out as this could not have been a surprise. Discovery and Focus programs were judged and criticized.
Rachel: 8.5 - Sucked in from beginning. Read in one sitting. Money provided resources. What happens to kids whose parents "don't care". Understands parental point of view. Harsh feedback would be hard to take - likely to give up. Parts about Clarie cause worry about becoming a parent.
Anne: 8.0 - Easy to read. Book hit home because Phil's brother attended Spring Creek. Heard first hand about Focus and Discovery. Cool book, now understand. Now considering participation. Micheal is now a teacher at the school.
Erika: 8.0 - Enjoyed the book. Read quickly. Had a better understanding of why people act the way they do. Enjoyed Mia's portions and wished her story was shared more.
Tina: 8.0 - Liked Mia's thoughts. Reflection on Claire as a control freak. Freaked out about thoughts as a parent. Gave perspective on why people to the things they do. Enjoyed reading the book.
Dana: 7.0 - Ditto!
1 comment:
COMMENTS FROM BECKY
(IN IRAQ)
This book is inspirational for anyone going through tough times. It's a true story of mother and daughter facing the challenges in life to include; addiction, treatment, separation, self improvement and growth. I give this book a 8.5. It helped me cope with reintegration and really made me think about child rearing in today's society.
This book, for me, paralleled the deployment in Iraq in many ways. Mia talks about the solidarity of her treatment. On page 123 she talks about the time segmentations, finding ways to make time pass with everyday being the same (Tae Bo twice a week, Thursday movie night, monthly grilling parties). She talks of the connection to the outside world and how important mail is to her sanity. She even refers to what life is like being in a time bubble with the rest of the world still moving forward and changing. I find the more I learn about treatment and other institutions, such as prison, there are so many parallels to a military deployment. It helps me realize that there are many other people here, at home, that can relate to my feelings of detachment, being overwhelmed by options, and the regret of any feeling to miss it.
Mia even touches on what happens in an institution when you finally accept your situation. Eventually you realize there is nothing you can do about being there. Struggling doesn't help, so you might as well make the most of the situation. You might as well learn and grow as much possible as a person. You might as well build relationships and try and enjoy yourself some, because otherwise you are just going to be miserable and that's not any way to spend even a day of your life, let alone 2 years.
Another major point I really took away from this book is how different kids are raised today vs. how they were a decade or decades ago. I am not sure if it's generation X, Y or any of the many others I hear about now, but somewhere along the way, child rearing took a turn. This is my opinion, but I feel many times today parents are afraid to be honest with their children. They are either fearful of rejection or they don't make time to be open with them.
Some children are growing up with the absence of truth; they are surrounded by passive aggression. They aren't dealing with their feelings, their emotions. So, when they are overcome with thoughts and emotions they don't know how to deal with, they turn to things that help them become numb to it; drugs, alcohol, and so many other addictions. They suppress these feelings over many years and don't ever deal with them, which doesn't allow them to be mature, capable adults.
Because all this truth is being suppressed, the children don't feel anyone understands them, lies, lies to cover up the lies. Then it becomes so scary to grow up. Then what? This is everything the book talks about, but I do feel it's so raw and great to communicate. Be real! Be honest!
I will step off my soapbox. This was a very helpful, inspirational book for me. It may be tough for others because it does talk a lot about how it's not just the child that has to change in this situation, but his or her entire environment; family, home, old patterns, old expectations. It's the only way the treatment, in this extreme situation, is going to be effective.
Obviously it's easier to make observations or draw conclusions from the outside. So, I am not judging, just had a lot of time to think about it.
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