Trust In Saturday Climbing By W. D. Valgardson

Adolescents are very unlikely to reach their full potential without the guidance of an adult figure, such as a mother, father, sibling, or guardian. Adult figures are essential to a growing child because they exemplify decision making, wisdom, and overall life lessons on how to grow up. Although some children do have an adult figure in their life, they aren’t always the best influences for their children, adults also face their own battles which can reflect upon their exterior, ultimately having a critical effect on a child’s development. For example, in “Running with Scissors” by Augusten Burroughs, the main character Augusten lives with his mother who suffers from a mental disorder who guides him into a pathway of chaos and disorder. Augusten learns to cope with no guidance, but still faces many issues that could have been resolved with a reassuring adult figure.

Even though she was at her house, she still hurried to get to school for the feeling of satisfaction and safety instead of staying at her house which is filled with fear and discomfort. Barry uses the main character’s actions to convey that the narrator only feels comfort when she is at school and that she always urges to be there. Secondly, in the passage that follows, Lynda Barry writes the narrator’s thoughts to show that just the sighting of someone’s safe haven can relieve panic. “ All I knew was a feeling of panic, like the panic that strikes kids when they realize they are lost. That feeling eased the moment I turned the corner and saw the dark outline of my school at the top of the hill” (Barry 1). The quotes conveys that just when the protagonist sees the outline of her school the feeling of discomfort simply disappears. The narrator’s mind finally went calm, as shown through the thoughts that went through her head. Thirdly, in the next excerpt, the author uses first person narrative to express the thinking of the central figure of narrative. “It’s only thinking about it now, 28 years later, that

her father trusted him. It makes her sad and fearful of the power that her father possesses. She is

School is not only a get-away for some children but it’s a place where children can branch out, become great at something, express themselves, and get noticed for talents that they may possess. Many may not realize but Barry is just like any normal person out in the world. She grew up but prospered in a very rough, chaotic time. If you think about, many people can relate to some extent to Barry’s issues coming up. Some may even agree, like me, that school is vital to everyone. If I came up in life without band or music, I don’t know who I would be today. Have you ever been on the internet just looking at how talented some people are but never thought to realize their background? Being able to sing, draw, play instruments, dance, etc.; all these examples of talents become someone’s escape from some inevitable truth that they may not want to come to terms with at that

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”

When Moira is young Barry is able to provide full security for her because she is fully dependant on him. Barry recalls how the “climbing” was easy; “there were large handholds, so that at first climbing was little more difficult than walking up stairs” (p. 52). Both Barry and Moira are comfortable with the amount of security and any conflicts are easily solved. Barry can readily protect Moira from any possible dangers. Even as Moira becomes an adult Barry nostalgically sees her as a little girl, “intricately constructed of fragile paper” (p. 56). Therefore he must protect her from anything that might damage her. Barry would like Moira to always follow him so he can “keep life simple and uncomplicated” (p. 53) by setting any necessary protection for her. However, because Moira is so sheltered and suffocated by her father, as she grows older she is quick to separate herself and become independent.

Family relations are complex, but none may be as difficult to navigate as the bond that exists between a father and his son. Even though the son becomes angry and displeased with his father, he is always able to come back to him, revealing the cyclic nature and the impacts of

Although single parenthood is on the rise in homes today, children still often have a father role in their life. It does not matter who the part is filled by: a father, uncle, older brother, grandfather, etc...; in almost all cases, those relationships between the father (figure) and child have lasting impacts on the youth the rest of their lives. In “I Wanted to Share My Father’s World,” Jimmy Carter tells the audience no matter the situation with a father, hold onto every moment.

In the poem “The Writer” by Richard Wilbur and the short story “Saturday Climbing” by W.D. Valgardson, both of them describe children’s growth in parent’s point of view. Somehow, parents realize children always meet difficulty along with their growth, and parents sometimes are unable to help them, whereas both parents and children have to struggle for themselves.

It is easy to blame a child’s upbringing when something goes wrong in their teenage and adult life. However, both Wes Moore’s had a similar childhood yet still ended up with different fates. For example, both of them had absent fathers and were raised by a single parent One of them describes their situation perfectly by telling the other. “Your father wasn’t there because he couldn’t be, my father wasn’t there because he chose not to be “ (Moore 3). A situation where the father is absent is commonly blamed for a misguided life but it is later evident that although there was no father, one of the Wes Moore’s was able to thrive in a positive manner. Since there was a lack of fatherhood, both of them lacked role models, specifically ones that would lead to live positive lives. One Wes Moore chose to retaliate by almost stabbing a neighborhood kid because “it was a pride issue”(Moore 32) and

whatever danger lies before them. Furthermore, she gives him no optimistic view of the future, and,

The mother/daughter relationship between Mrs. MacTeer and her two daughters, Claudia and Frieda, is loving and strong. They are taught their own self-worth through their mother’s strength and example, although this love isn’t fully appreciated by the girls until they are older. During Claudia’s illness, she is treated with a mixture of concern and anger. Although Claudia is scolded and her mother complains of cleaning her vomit, at the same time her mother is nursing her, giving her medicine, and checking on her throughout the night. Claudia discovers later that her mother’s anger is not directed at her, but at the world, as she must raise her black family in a world ruled by white culture. She protects her children and equips them for survival in a hostile environment.

Every child needs their parents as a role model in their life. In addition to having a role model one needs a family too. Kids look up to their parents and learn the ways of life from them. Additionally, their parents are there to teach them how to succeed in life and how to grow into nice young men/ women. In the two essays “Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie portrays what it’s like to not have a parent as a role model ,and “Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White states what having a that perfect parental role model and what it’s like to have a family. While “Once More to the Lake” has a strong family and parental influence, conversely “Superman and Me” tells a whole new story and recounts on what it is like having no family or

This is made obvious by the subjective reflections of the now grown daughters as they write about their relationships with a distorted and one-sided view. “When individuals describe and evaluate an important relationship, this “accounting” of the relationship imparts meanings to the events, actions, and emotions of their past history, their present interactions, and their anticipated future together.” (Bojczyk, Lehan and McWey) This is how they identify their formative years and how they identify themselves as daughters to their mothers. Sufficed to say, despite the differences in perspective and experience, it is nearly impossible for the mother-daughter relationship to be clinically reviewed, they are heavily subjected to the author’s opinions and reactions to their mother.

Shylock is also the victim when Jessica leaves. He loses his only child, that underneath his cold exterior it becomes apparent he loves her and struggles with the depth of his grief. He loses hold on his business and walks through the streets morning the loss of his child to the men he detests. He cries in anguish ‘The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now…. My own flesh and blood to rebel! I say, my daughter is my flesh and blood.’ This scene evokes compassion towards Shylock but he is tormented more by Salario and Salanio. This shows him as a repentant father, a man a victim to his child’s will and prejudice surrounding his race.