My copy of this book is pretty worn, but with sweet memories. This was a book that my grandmother gave me. It came as a set and included The Little House in the Big Woods and Mary Poppins. If there was another book, I don’t remember it. I don’t remember what year I was given this book, but I remember that my first books came from my grandmother. I am not sure how many times I have read this book, but I don’t think I read it as often as some of my other books. Now I think this is an important book to read and discuss. There are many lessons that I see now about the thoughts you think and the responsibilities you choose.
I can relate to Meg; I, too, never wanted to be an oddball. Yet I was. I was not as smart at math as Meg, and I was just as good at the negativity and victim mentality that she was feeling during most of this book. What I had missed in my readings was that Meg took responsibility when she did not want to and changed her course. When she changed her course, the blame, shame, and victim mentality seemed to decrease, too.
As they prepare for their journey to rescue their father, Mrs. Which says, “There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones.” What does this mean? Who are the responsible people? What should they do?
When they free their father, the brother is left behind, and Meg is angry with her dad. He did not meet her expectations. There were several times when she thought her dad should have done something. She is angry because her brother was left behind. As they are talking about the situation, Meg cries out, “I can’t go! I can’t! You know I can’t.” The response was that she was not asked to at that point, and she started crying as she said that she would go back for her brother. She knows it must be her that will go in order to bring her brother back. At this point, she takes responsibility and changes her course from being a victim, angry at others, to being a creator or proactive, willing to try again. Not only did she save her brother, but she also gained self-confidence in who she was and gained some wisdom. Meg’s wisdom lies in her ability to trust her emotions, which she thought was a weakness.
What a wonderful lesson for us to learn. That we can choose our thinking and take responsibility instead of being victimized by the situation. We can use gifts wisely and come to better know ourselves through our experiences.
I can relate to Meg; I, too, never wanted to be an oddball. Yet I was. I was not as smart at math as Meg, and I was just as good at the negativity and victim mentality that she was feeling during most of this book. What I had missed in my readings was that Meg took responsibility when she did not want to and changed her course. When she changed her course, the blame, shame, and victim mentality seemed to decrease, too.
As they prepare for their journey to rescue their father, Mrs. Which says, “There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones.” What does this mean? Who are the responsible people? What should they do?
When they free their father, the brother is left behind, and Meg is angry with her dad. He did not meet her expectations. There were several times when she thought her dad should have done something. She is angry because her brother was left behind. As they are talking about the situation, Meg cries out, “I can’t go! I can’t! You know I can’t.” The response was that she was not asked to at that point, and she started crying as she said that she would go back for her brother. She knows it must be her that will go in order to bring her brother back. At this point, she takes responsibility and changes her course from being a victim, angry at others, to being a creator or proactive, willing to try again. Not only did she save her brother, but she also gained self-confidence in who she was and gained some wisdom. Meg’s wisdom lies in her ability to trust her emotions, which she thought was a weakness.
What a wonderful lesson for us to learn. That we can choose our thinking and take responsibility instead of being victimized by the situation. We can use gifts wisely and come to better know ourselves through our experiences.
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