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How do you think that Hillary’s mother leaving her reflected on her own relationship with her daughter? How often do we fight our past experiences trying to be free of repeating same old mistakes?

This book gained depth trough the theme of heritage and family. It made Hillary more real and relatable character to me. Her struggles are realistic. I could understand her issues with being hesitant about more children and feeling inadequate. Those are such human doubts and especially with mothers.
It made her even better mother in my eyes because she tries so much with everything she knows.

Hillary is especially cautious and often doubts herself because of the way her own mother abandoned her as a child. Maternal abandonment must be one of the hardest situations to come to terms with.

Sometimes we are too critical of ourselves and are constantly trying not to repeat the mistakes our parents made.

Hillary's insecurities as a mother were often highlighted in the novel. Initially I wondered if I was missing something from the first books of the series, but then the various mentions of Hillary's mother offered a bigger picture that made her attitude easier to understand.

Hillary's ability to deal with her abandonment by her mother, made her a better mother in my opinion. It was interesting that she was afraid of repeating her mother's behavior when she had not been influenced by her for most of her childhood. I admired the way she made up her mind not to repeat her own mothers mistakes.

There was one part that Hillary leaves sleeping Claire to go check on another character. I just felt so apprehensive about her doing that. And, with a murderer running about, I felt it was a irresponsible move. Yet, Hillary was an abandoned child, so she may not have good parenting skills. Yet, I would think this would have made her more protective.

I often felt inadequate add a mother and I had a happy childhood for the most part. Fear of not being a good mother makes us try harder in my thoughts. Hillary was a great mom, I think her dysfunctional non relationship with her own mother helped her to b that s way.

We sre a product of our upbringing. Hilary hadn't had a Mom to learn from. Naturally that was going to affect her confidence in herself as a mother. She also had no Mom to call for advice and support her as a mother. I know from experience (my Mom died when my first was very young) that your confidence in yourself and how your doing things is negatively affected by that. Hillary was a good parent to Claire, but it's easy to understand her insecurities.

Hillary's baggage connected to her motherly heritage is something I can relate to, albeit in a different context. My mother died young, and I have faced fears of feeling like I would also die young; that somehow I was cursed and history was doomed to repeat itself. Hillary seems to fear that she is doomed to repeat her mother's actions. In reality, she has a choice as to whether or not she abandons her daughter, but she feels like she doesn't have a choice.

cpru68 wrote: ↑01 Mar 2020, 12:20 There was one part that Hillary leaves sleeping Claire to go check on another character. I just felt so apprehensive about her doing that. And, with a murderer running about, I felt it was a irresponsible move. Yet, Hillary was an abandoned child, so she may not have good parenting skills. Yet, I would think this would have made her more protective.

I felt very anxious about that part also. I was wondering if Claire would be there or gone when Hillary returned!

I felt Hillary was a good mom to Claire. I do believe her own mother's abandonment played a huge role in her insecurities about herself. She was a good mom, a successful writer, and had a super husband yet she had low self-esteem which I think was a product of her childhood and not having her mom.

I thought Hillary was a great mom to Claire despite her mother leaving her at a young age. Though she did have doubts about herself, it was evident throughout the book that she was a caring mother.

Her abandonment issues did not seem to impact her ability to be an excellent mother. Her nurturing care for her daughter were evident throughout the book. I think she balanced her insecurities with her need to provide what she missed in her own upbringing, The author did a fine job of offsetting the two.

NetMassimo wrote: ↑01 Mar 2020, 06:07 Hillary's insecurities as a mother were often highlighted in the novel. Initially I wondered if I was missing something from the first books of the series, but then the various mentions of Hillary's mother offered a bigger picture that made her attitude easier to understand.

I felt that I missed something for not reading first two books. It was definitely a slower start and it took time to connect with Hilary. But her inner struggles very real and made that possible.

Twylla wrote: ↑01 Mar 2020, 09:14 Hillary's ability to deal with her abandonment by her mother, made her a better mother in my opinion. It was interesting that she was afraid of repeating her mother's behavior when she had not been influenced by her for most of her childhood. I admired the way she made up her mind not to repeat her own mothers mistakes.

It definitely took strength not to fall into familiar patterns of behavior. I admire that too.

cpru68 wrote: ↑01 Mar 2020, 12:20 There was one part that Hillary leaves sleeping Claire to go check on another character. I just felt so apprehensive about her doing that. And, with a murderer running about, I felt it was a irresponsible move. Yet, Hillary was an abandoned child, so she may not have good parenting skills. Yet, I would think this would have made her more protective.

Good point. I was more thinking overall of the book and her inner struggles but this is great example. I don't think that is the first of last mistake she will ever make.