If you've never wept and want to, have a child.
David Foster WallaceRead
Everything good in my life can be traced back to my mother's sobriety. She showed me that broken people can - with the help of others - turn themselves around.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the profound impact a mother's sobriety has on one's life and the possibility of healing through support.
Peter Hedges expresses gratitude for his mother's sobriety, highlighting how her journey to recovery has positively influenced his own life. He underscores the broader message that even those who face significant struggles can find redemption and strength when supported by others, showcasing the transformative power of love and community in overcoming adversity.
In practice
During a family gathering, you might share this quote to honor your mother's influence.
If you've never wept and want to, have a child.
We know, for instance, that there is a direct, inverse relationship between frequency of family meals and social problems. Bluntly stated, members of families who eat together regularly are statistically less likely to stick up liquor stores, blow up meth labs, give birth to crack babies, commit suicide, or make donkey porn. If Little Timmy had just had more meatloaf, he might not have grown up to fill chest freezers with Cub Scout parts.
Few things make the life of a parent more rewarding and sweet as successful children.
Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter.
It's a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful.
When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.
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