Appreciation is the Key to a Happy Life

Has there ever been a time where a family kept changing homes and never stabilized themselves? The Walls' family in the book "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls had constantly moved from place to place. They were basically  like pioneers. The Walls' kids, Jeannette, Lori, Brian and Maureen explored every area they had lived at. The family faced many obstacles throughout their lives such as having a alcoholic father, an artistic yet indolent mother and times where they didn't have enough money or food. The kids don't complain about the problems as often as I thought they would. They seem to handle the fact of not taking baths, eating foods from the trash can, and wearing the same clothes everyday pretty well. There are a number of quotes/lines from the story that got me thinking to myself on how hard the family has it, but how well they take care of it.

One example on how the Walls' kids take care of themselves is by having to take care of their mother first. If the mother lacks the ability of continuing her school job as a teacher, the kids would grade her students test and homework as well as cleaning  up the house when all the mom does is laying down in bed crying. -_- I have never experienced this problem, nor do I look forward to this because it's very depressing knowing the mother is all broken down. For myself, I can't stand when my mother cries, but the kids handle it pretty well. They just leave her alone because it happens so often. No one in this world would enjoy having to grade a slacking mother's students' test/homework. These children are so understanding, they don't even have a problem doing it.

Another example is how Jeannette said "I hate the winter." But right away the mother said,
"All seasons have something to offer. Cold weather is good for you, it kills germs." Despite the fact that they have to look at icicles hanging down from the kitchen ceiling from the winter they don't complain move out/getting the problems fixed. If that were me, I would have gone crazy. WHO WANTS ICICLES HANGING FROM THE KITCHEN CEILING? Another thing Jeannette Walls mentioned in the book was that winter minimized the amount of time they washed their clothes. Normally my mother washes my family's clothing every week with our washing machine, but the Walls family doesn't. They can stand living in their filthy clothes when my family can't.

Throughout the book, the family faced many challenges but got through them all. When the whole family slowly ended up in New York, they became successful. At least Lori, Brian and Jeannette did. The mother and father just wanted to live out on the streets. They didn't have money to keep up with their house rent so they usually stayed outside sleeping on park benches. I really don't understand why the Dad can't keep a hold of his job. Why does he get so aggressive? They should know that living inside a house is safer than the outside world. But then again I realize they were meant to be adventurers. They had many pleasant times living out in the wild rather than living in a home. They appreciate all the little things nature brings to them. The hot, cold, anything.  On the other hand my family prefers to be living indoors than outdoors. We aren't like the Walls AT ALL. But the one thing we have in common is that...we are a loving family ♥♥

Though I have finished this book a while ago, I have been waiting to write a response on it. This book was absolutely beautiful. I wanted to write so many things on this book but couldn't decide on which to choose. I have never enjoyed a book as much as I enjoyed "The Glass Castle." This book has taught me to be thankful for what I have. Many families out there have so little to themselves when over here I whine for more. :(  I always had thought to myself as I was reading the book... "Would I have handled the problems as well as the Walls' kids do it?" Then right away an answer comes to my mind. "No." This book should be read by all students in middle school because they will truly learn from this and appreciate the things that they have already.