What do you think went into the timing of Ruth’s decision to look for her son? Why was this a good or bad choice in your opinion?

What do you think went into the timing of Ruth’s decision to look for her son? Why was this a good or bad choice in your opinion?

I think that Ruth had always wanted to know what happened to her son, but was in denial. As she matured, she felt guilt and an obligation to find her son. It was neither a good or bad decision, but a necessary decision for Ruth to come to terms with. She didn't think of what her decision could do. Ruth also was uncertain of her future with her husband.

In addition to the factors teachiz mentions, I think Xavier's desire to begin a family put additional pressure on Ruth to find out what happened to her son. She wanted to know the impact of her decision on his life.

I think Ruth’s decision to look for her son after years of marriage and career success was to see how she felt about the idea of motherhood. Ruth felt a longing to be a mother and I think she wanted to be sure of herself.

In my opinion, Ruth isn’t so sure if she wants have a child, however Xavier's pressure to start a family opens a Pandora’s Box for Ruth and sets the stage for the story.

In my opinion, Ruth isn’t so sure if she wants have a child, however Xavier's pressure to start a family opens a Pandora’s Box for Ruth and sets the stage for the story.

In my opinion Ruth is not sure she wants children because she is appears content with her successful career but Xavier wants children plus in the back of her mind she realizes she must come to terms with her past and perhaps discover what motherhood could be like.

I disagree with some of the people above. I believe it is natural for a mother to wonder what happened to a child she gave up, but Ruth forced herself into denial over this for years, until Xavier wants a child and she faces up to the fact that, regarding this issue, she has lived a lie. This lie freezes her ability to go on with her life.

Trauma often triggers things we hide from ourselves to forefront. I think her husbands constant nudging fir them to embark on parenthood and the argument that ensued finally made Ruth look at what she had refused to deal with in the past, acceptance and responsibility of a child she participated in conceiving and in leaving.

I think the timing of Ruth's decision to return home to find her son was in a large part dependent on Xavier's reaction when she told him her secret. Ruth knew that she had to face her past in order to be able to move forward in life with Xavier. Once Ruth told him of her past, Xavier made his feelings more important than Ruth's. I do think her decision to charge back to Ganton, at Christmastime no less, was irrational and unrealistic. However, Ruth didn't want to stay in a home that felt lonely and angry, and she didn't really think through her plan. If Xavier could have been more supportive of Ruth's unburdening of herself- -her shame, her guilt, her fear- - they may have been able to work with their lawyer friend to find out what happened to the son Ruth had 11 years ago. This wouldn't have disrupted Corey's life as much as Ruth's announcement along the Wabash River AFTER Corey was almost shot by the police (as if that event wasn't traumatic enough for him). I didn't agree with Ruth's decision to tell Corey that she was his mother. In my opinion, she needed to have had a conversation with Corey's parents. It was this type of behavior from Ruth that made we wonder if she was trapped, emotionally, at the age of 17.

Ruth had supressed the reality of having given birth for so long, that when she was faced with discussions of having a family with her husband, several frightening reactions were triggered. Most of these fears were coupled with Exavier's responses to havig kept a secret for so many years. Where is the child? who adopted the baby? What is the child's name? She couldn't answer any of these questions. What kind of a person was he married to? What kind of person was she? She had to find out.

I think Ruth's husband's desire to have a child placed pressure on her to remedy hurt from the past. It would be hurtful to have a child and not have concern for the well being of the child that she did not have the opportunity to care for.

Xavier pushing Ruth to have children kept her son on her mind. I doubt that there is a good time to track down a child you gave away - there just becomes a time to do it - right or wrong.