Far from the Tree REVIEW
I can’t really do a better job describing this book/documentary than you will find HERE.
But in short, consider all the different ways that a parent might find themselves raising a child who is unimaginably different than what they expected that a child of theirs would be. Imagine a child who is a prodigy or who has schizophrenia or who is autistic or was born with dwarfism, or who has Downs Syndrome or who is gay or trans or you name it. How does a parent figure out how to adjust to the work and privilege of parenting when “the apple is nowhere near the tree”?
Do you say to a child, “Look, I was prepared for you to be an individual within limits?” Do you say “Hey bud, in order for this all to work and for me to keep on loving you, you are going to need to be something a good deal different than you are?” Does a parent get to say to the universe “I signed up for the responsibility of caring for my child but not some alien being”?
Far From the Tree is the result of hundreds of interviews with families who tell their stories about adjusting to or accepting or appreciating abnormal children. It is compelling, riveting, and thought provoking and the sort of thing that would make for a great book or film discussion group.
Question for Comment: What adjustments did your parents have to make to love you as you are? What adjustments have you had to make to love your children as they are?
Comments