Re: Steve as a father

Use this forum to discuss the April 2019 Book of the month, "Adrift" by Charlie Sheldon
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Re: Steve as a father

Post by Kajori Sheryl Paul »

Steve did everything he could to provide for Jimmie who was fatally injured. However, he did not give him his time. Jimmy was a lonely boy. He spent his time in the expensive sanatorium. Even his mother washed her hands off him. The only thing he looked forward to was his father's visits. It was only in the end that Steve decided to stay with Jimmie.

Do you think that Steve should have paid more attention to Jimmie?
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Post by Ferdinand_Otieno »

I think that Steve was a great father who worked himself to death trying to afford the care Jimmie needed, but I believe what Jimmie needed most of all was his father to be present.
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Post by Charlyt »

I think that yes, he should have been there more. But at the same time, I couldn't blame him because his job paid for Jimmie's stay in the institution. Steve did the best he could to be a father in the most possible way he could think of. It's an unfortunate sacrifice that parents all over the world decide to do. I think he reprived himself by choosing to stay with Jimmie in the end.
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Post by Nerea »

Steve did his best to balance his responsibility as a father and a ship captain. I liked how he was concerned about the welfare of his son though he wasn't always physically available.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

Kajori50 wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 03:32 Steve did everything he could to provide for Jimmie who was fatally injured. However, he did not give him his time. Jimmy was a lonely boy. He spent his time in the expensive sanatorium. Even his mother washed her hands off him. The only thing he looked forward to was his father's visits. It was only in the end that Steve decided to stay with Jimmie.

Do you think that Steve should have paid more attention to Jimmie?
Jimmie wasn't fatally injured. He didn't die; fatal means death. He did have a life-altering serious injury.
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Post by Kibet Hillary »

There was a chance for him to improve although one may actually understand what he was undergoing. Money was needed but he could have also given him enough time.
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Post by Kibet Hillary »

Charlyt wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 04:51 I think that yes, he should have been there more. But at the same time, I couldn't blame him because his job paid for Jimmie's stay in the institution. Steve did the best he could to be a father in the most possible way he could think of. It's an unfortunate sacrifice that parents all over the world decide to do. I think he reprived himself by choosing to stay with Jimmie in the end.
This is true. If he could have stayed at home, he would never have had any money to help his son. So I guess his options were really limited.
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Post by Kajori Sheryl Paul »

Ferdinand_otieno wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 04:25 I think that Steve was a great father who worked himself to death trying to afford the care Jimmie needed, but I believe what Jimmie needed most of all was his father to be present.
I agree. He just needed his father's attention.
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Post by Kajori Sheryl Paul »

Charlyt wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 04:51 I think that yes, he should have been there more. But at the same time, I couldn't blame him because his job paid for Jimmie's stay in the institution. Steve did the best he could to be a father in the most possible way he could think of. It's an unfortunate sacrifice that parents all over the world decide to do. I think he reprived himself by choosing to stay with Jimmie in the end.
That's a noble observation. Sometimes, parents need to do things that they don't want to do for their children's sake.
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Post by Kajori Sheryl Paul »

Nerea wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 07:26 Steve did his best to balance his responsibility as a father and a ship captain. I liked how he was concerned about the welfare of his son though he wasn't always physically available.
It was quite apparent that he loved his son. However, I think Jimmie needed his physical presence as well.
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Post by Kajori Sheryl Paul »

CatInTheHat wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 10:14
Kajori50 wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 03:32 Steve did everything he could to provide for Jimmie who was fatally injured. However, he did not give him his time. Jimmy was a lonely boy. He spent his time in the expensive sanatorium. Even his mother washed her hands off him. The only thing he looked forward to was his father's visits. It was only in the end that Steve decided to stay with Jimmie.

Do you think that Steve should have paid more attention to Jimmie?
Jimmie wasn't fatally injured. He didn't die; fatal means death. He did have a life-altering serious injury.
Yes, you are absolutely right. It was a life-altering injury. I just wanted to show that his injury was fatal for his dreams and aspirations. I guess that did not come across. Thank you for pointing it out.
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Post by Kajori Sheryl Paul »

Kibetious wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 11:17
Charlyt wrote: 02 Apr 2019, 04:51 I think that yes, he should have been there more. But at the same time, I couldn't blame him because his job paid for Jimmie's stay in the institution. Steve did the best he could to be a father in the most possible way he could think of. It's an unfortunate sacrifice that parents all over the world decide to do. I think he reprived himself by choosing to stay with Jimmie in the end.
This is true. If he could have stayed at home, he would never have had any money to help his son. So I guess his options were really limited.
He worked around that by the end. Maybe, he could do that a bit earlier. Just a thought.
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Post by vishu »

The whole situation is a dilemma. While Steve should have dedicated more of his time towards Jimmie, it was his job that paid for Jimmie's stay. It is a common pattern among parents in the world.
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Post by Supergirl1 »

The time versus money conundrum is one that will persist through time. I think Steve gave as much time as he could afford. As a de facto parent, I understand this dilemma.
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Post by Prisallen »

I agree with the above statements that Steve needed to work in order to pay the bills for his son. It sounded like he tried to be with him as much as he could when he was between jobs. I'm glad that he chose to live with him at the end, even if it meant they might struggle a little bit to get by. I think his son would be happier and Steve wouldn't feel so guilty.
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