I love you forever, the real story

Jul 20, 2015 15:33:22 GMT grinningcat said:

Jul 20, 2015 14:49:46 GMT roundtwo said:

WHile I know from reading here that some find the book creepy, I've always just thought it was a story about the never ending love a parent has for a child.

Would anyone share their reasons why they think it is creepy?

You don't find the mother smothering her child, even as an adult creepy? I sure as hell do. I find the whole unable to let go of her child as an adult super creepy. I was always told that part of being a good parent is letting your child go and fly away. Not sneak into their room and "cuddle" them when they are adults. That's not cuddling, that's smothering.

But I also do not understand why it makes people cry or sob through the story. Maybe that's another reason why I find it so bothersome. I don't like things that are intended to evoke that kind of emotion. Too manipulative. I didn't cry when I was forced to read it to my nieces and nephews, I just kept monotone because I didn't think reading it sarcastically with additional comments would have been appropriate.

The backstory of how the story came to be doesn't change the creepiness. It's just how the idea came into his head.

It's a children's book.  As an adult, it might be seen as smothering.  As a child, it's an assurance that your parent will always be your parent, no matter how old you both get.

Honestly, I think this is one of those instances where you have to have kids of your own to truly understand why parents get so emotional over this book.  It's sad because, as adults, we're very aware that our kids' cuddliness has a limited shelf life.

Jul 20, 2015 20:00:30 GMT apeacalledliz said:

Jul 20, 2015 19:03:57 GMT Dalai Mama said:

It's a children's book.  As an adult, it might be seen as smothering.  As a child, it's an assurance that your parent will always be your parent, no matter how old you both get.

Honestly, I think this is one of those instances where you have to have kids of your own to truly understand why parents get so emotional over this book.  It's sad because, as adults, we're very aware that our kids' cuddliness has a limited shelf life.

As a parent of adult and near adult children I find the book creepy and that kind of obsession about your adult children suffocating. I love my kids, I have always loved my kids, but as adults living on their own when they aren't with me, I don't think about them everyday or night, I don't stop and wistfully stare off wishing for their toddler days back or one last cuddle. I understand that some parents are that way, that some feel like they are losing something as their children grow. Personally I look forward to each new thing they will experience or did experience... I look forward to the new milestones that will happen, I love their personalities, I love that instead of being in their lives day in day out(the ones who don't live here) I get to catch up and visit with them when they are here. I don't miss babyhood or toddlerhood... I love the relationships that I have with them in the here and now. 
That infantilizing adult children is what creeps me out, even if it was only in her head. 

What kind obsession with your adult children?  As I said, it's a children's book, to be read to children.  The children are relating it to the relationship they, as children, have with their adult parents and most parents relate it to the relationship they have with the children to whom they are reading it (hopefully not adults).

I do miss my children as toddlers and children (although, the idea of me staring wistfully is rather ridiculous).  I also miss them as newborns and tweens.  I might prefer them as teens but they were pretty awesome kids too.  And, when they're adults, I'll miss their teen years too regardless of how great our relationship might be at the time.