The Bean Trees #2

Dear Mr.Groff,

The first few years of a child's life are vital to their personal development, and the events that they experience will have a major impact on the rest of their lives. In the novel, The Bean Trees, Taylor is given a child who she knows nothing about. She names the baby girl Turtle, and slowly becomes aware of what the child's past involved.

If a child is not given the proper nourishment and attention they will not thrive. For example, when Taylor takes Turtle to the doctor she learns that Turtle is close to three years old. However, the little girl in this story does not appear to be three years old at the time. She is not the size or intellectual level that you would expect a three year old to be and this causes readers to wonder what past events have stunted her growth. There are situation in which parents do not have the resources to provide for their children. This is when child protection services often get involved and place the child in a home that will provide properly for them. It is hard to justify taking a child away from their birth parents but in most cases it is in the best interest of the child. For Turtle, being given away was the best thing that happened to her. Taylor learns that Turtle was abused, which provides answers to why she is behind in her development. Children need to feel comfortable learning, so if they don't often they will resist direction from adult figures. Interaction between a child and a adult is the best way for children to learn. Monkey see, monkey do is not just a silly phrase it actually has impact of a child's life.

I know that when I child doesn't grow up in a healthy environment it is difficult for them to thrive. Since about grade three I have been able to distinguish between kids that are provided with what they need to grow and mature properly and kids who have been "short changed", for lack of a better term. Previous to grade three I was oblivious to these kinds of ideas. Kids were kids and they were all just like me. Influences from the adults around me must have made be aware of the differences between other children I believed were just like me. Some of my class mates lived with their grandparents because their biological parents had drug and alcohol addictions and could no longer look after them. I know that this had an impact on their development. Other class mates were provided with everything they could ever dream of, except nourishment from their parents. I am not talking about food. I am talking about love and affection through actions. Without this form of nourishment children often search for ways to feel loved and the outcome is not always positive. As children who have not grown up in a proper environment mature into teenagers they may feel lost and lack self respect, self confidence, and various other attributes that form a well-rounded individual.

I feel as if my parents have done a great job of providing me with everything I need, including love and affection. I am so thankful that they have done this for me. Therefore, when I have children of my own I will know how essential the first few years of their lives are, and I will try my best to raise them well.

Sincerely,

Chantel Matlock