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The Nest


A funny and acutely perceptive debut about four siblings and the fate of their ...
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Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

Created: 03/26/17

Replies: 10

Posted Mar. 26, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

When Francie Plumb meets with her children, she ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win.” Do you think this is a common feeling or frustration of parents with more than one child? 


Posted Apr. 02, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothygo

Join Date: 03/27/13

Posts: 23

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

I do not think this is a common feeling of parents with more than one child. I felt that Francie Plumb used that "line" to absolve herself of blame for not mothering well. It seems she did little to foster trust and love as she seemed somewhat like Leo in her selfish manner. Perhaps that is why she did not stop to consider the other childrens' feelings when she gave the nest to Leo. Seeing herself in Leo allowed her to favor him over the other children. In that way, you can never "win".


Posted Apr. 03, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susiej

Join Date: 10/15/14

Posts: 363

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

I so agreed with dorothygo in her response to this question. If a parent feels this way about her/his relationships with their children, then that parent needs to grow up. Each child is different and will have different needs and must be treated uniquely. There cannot be a quick fix and as the adult, the parent must keep trying. Saying that she "could not win" was a total cop out for Francie. She was too self involved to keep working with and for her children. She wanted that quick fix and to move on, selfishly, to her own agenda.


Posted Apr. 04, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jenik

Join Date: 01/24/17

Posts: 2

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

Distrust and competition among sibling is usually created and nurtured by
parents. Is there evidence of this ? If so, how did it affect each member of
the families involved ?


Posted Apr. 05, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
CheriFaith

Join Date: 10/06/14

Posts: 37

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

But what did she ever do other than nothing? She was a conduit only for those kids - their passage way into the world - and that was it. It's a wonder all of them were not worse off than Leo ever was. Not a fan of the Francie at all.


Posted Apr. 06, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
amberb

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 96

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

Francie is one of those characters that is SO unlikeable! I agree with the other statements about her.

I do think that parents fear that, but I think healthy parents certainly try much harder than she did!


Posted Apr. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
betht

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 24

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

Wah Wah Wah. What a whiner. Big cop out. Can you tell I did NOT care for Francie? Ugh. No surprise to me that Leo, as the oldest, picked up his mother's worst self-centered qualities. Giving most of the Nest to Leo after his boneheaded mistake was irresponsible and enabling. I'm surprised the others even spoke to her anymore.


Posted Apr. 16, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
andreab

Join Date: 07/29/14

Posts: 101

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

Each of the characters had bad qualities but I still found them likable, whereas I did not like Francie at all. She seemed petulant and spoiled. She was only able to focus on how things affected her. Even the decisions she made to bail Leo out she made by using The Nest and short-changing her other children instead of using any of her own funds. It's no wonder her children were self-involved. They learned that from her.


Posted May. 07, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
vivianh

Join Date: 11/14/11

Posts: 160

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

Francie was too self centered to think of anybody but herself. She wanted any unpleasantness to just go away so she wouldn't have to deal with any bad publicity or inconvenience. Hopefully, Francie is an atypical parent.


Posted Jun. 06, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
audrey1

Join Date: 09/02/13

Posts: 43

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

Francie was pretty self absorbed and played the kids against each other. Her husband made a big mistake putting her in charge of the money.


Posted Jun. 06, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
audrey1

Join Date: 09/02/13

Posts: 43

RE: Francie Plumb ponders that "Nothing she did was good enough; what she did for one disappointed another. She couldn't win." Is this a common feeling of parents with more than one child?

I think Francie was a pretty self absorbed individual. Probably always had been Her husband made a big mistake for everyone's benefit by putting her in control of the money. I was happy to see that each of the kids figured out how to get over the money and go on with their lives.


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