This Is How It Always Is

This is the second time I’ve visited this story and I loved it just as much as the first time!

Laurie Frankel addresses a timely issue and while the story is very much about that issue, it’s really about parenting and family. The bottom line is that all parents want the very best for their child, but mostly? They want their children happy. And when you have a child that isn’t, there’s no end to the things they’ll do so that their kid is happy again.

I only have two minor complaints: the story wraps up a little too easily and nicely. In my experience, it’s very unrealistic. However, if we continue to have these conversations, maybe someday this will become the common response and what a wonderful ideal that would be! I also found the parents, Rosie and Penn, unrealistic and too perfect. Again, I would love to parent exactly like them – they’re unconditional in their love, immediately accepting of situations, and seemingly never get angry. That being said, I learned so much from their relationship and the conversations they had with each other. Their dialogue is some of the best I’ve ever read.

This book remains on my all-time favorite books. It’s compassionate and moving and unconditional. It shows the reader how to be a better human. It is important.
This book is full of discussion material.

If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear from you. What were your thoughts on this one?