nicole♡’s Reviews > The Glass Castle > Status Update

“"That's what I'm worried about," Mom said. "Look at the way you live. You've sold out. Next thing I know, you'll become a Republican." She shook her head. "Where are the values I raised you with?"
HA

“I didn't know what to do. Part of me wanted to do whatever I could to take care of Mom and Dad, and part of me just wanted to wash my hands of them.”

“After talking to Mom, I looked around my room. It was the maid's room off the kitchen, and it was tiny, with one narrow window and a bathroom that doubled as a closet. But it was mine. I had a room now, and I had a life, too, and there was no place in either one for Mom and Dad.”

“Mom's head snapped up.
. "You can't talk to me like that," she said. "I'm
your mother."
"If you want to be treated like a mother," I said, "you should act like one."

“For the first time, I had a clear idea of what Mom was up against. Being a strong woman was harder than I had thought.”

“It couldn't be that hard, I thought. Other moms did it. I tried quizzing her. Was she spending the money on herself? Was she giving it to Dad?
Was Dad stealing it? Or did we go through it quickly? I couldn't get an answer. "Give us the money," I said. "We'll work out a budget and stick to it."
"Easy for you to say," Mom replied.”

“Mom told us to savor it because we had no money for dinner the next night.
"Mom, what happened to it all?" I asked as we ate our ice-cream slices.
"Gone, gone, gone!" she said. "It's all gone."
"But where?" Lori asked.
"I’ve got a houseful of kids and a husband who soaks up booze like a sponge," Mom said. "Making ends meet is harder than you think."