Synthesis Essay
The article “The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask…” by Neil Millar shows the more respectful approach of parents to their children than the short story “Be-ers and Do-ers” by Budge Wilson. The story has more expectations towards the children where as the article shows how the actions of parents reflect on ones children. Both the article and the story have a negative side of parents whether it is, being too nice or too harsh. But the article ties in how one should control their actions as a parent.
In the short story Albert’s mother “made up her mind that [he] was going to be a perfect son” (6). The perfect son to her is a “do-er.” What is a do-er? One who is always doing something to keep themselves busy. But “Albert was a be-er, born that way” (6). Once Albert’s mother found out that he does not work well enough in school she became very frustrated. For example “[the] day Albert brought his report card home from school, [his] mom looked at it hard and anxious, eyebrows knotted”(8). When she noticed he is getting a low mark in math she tells him no baseball practice. Albert told her that he “[cannot] see no sense in working hard at something [he will] never use” (16). As a mother, she should have approached the consequences slowly, while telling him that math is more than just adding up a grocery bill. The article states “[as] their parent – their guide and leader … [one has] a responsibility to first nurture then educate” (10). This shows a major difference between the short story and the article. In the story the mother goes straight to the punishment but that may not always be the best way for a child to understand what is right. Getting mad will not help the child interpret why they cannot do what their parents tell them not to.
The article shows how the behavior in the household reflects on how children are raised. In the short story the parents do not give any tasks for the children to complete but the mother expects them to know what to do. Albert’s mother expresses that she wants him to be a “do-er” but she does not provide him with tasks to have the responsibility. The article says parents should give responsibility “by directing their children to take on small tasks … [and] as they get better, increase the tasks” (11). For example when there was a fire Albert took the responsibility as a leader and told the others what to do. Albert’s mother was proud of him because that was “what [she has] been looking for all of [his] life” (32). His mother has been expecting her children to take initiative and to take on tasks but she has never guided them to do so. If his mother gave him things to do at home she would have been a proud mother from the beginning and would not have had to wait so long until realizing he is “alive.” As parents, they needs to guide their children to have responsibility and not just expect them to have it.
The question in the article is “what kind of children do you want to raise” (5)? This does not necessary mean that parents completely choose who their child will be. For example in the short story the mother “[does not] want Albert to end up exactly like his father” (21). The story continues to say the same thought but the mother never tells Albert what it is she wants him to do or be. One day Albert finally broke the news and told his mother he is not going to be what she wants, he is going to be himself. Parents may “want to raise well-rounded, confident, considerate children that show gratitude and appreciation [or] strong loving children, who understand responsibility for their self and the ones they love” (6). But parents should understand that they do not get to entirely choose who heir child will be but the children’s actions do reflect on how they have been raised by their parents. The short story has the mother expecting her son to be perfect without any guidance from her. The article expands on how the actions of parents can change how the children are raised. The story shows how the mother is too hard on Albert and the article expresses how parents may be too easy on their children. But the article also includes how one can raise, as they would like. Therefore the article “The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask …” by Neil Millar shows a more respectful approach of parents to their children than the short story “Be-ers and Do-ers” by Budge Wilson.
