Traumatized Children and their future
In this story, “Never Marry a Mexican”, written by Sandra Cisneros, a woman named
Clemencia, who is also the narrator of the story, portrays her experiences about cultural,
social, sexual and economic difference between her parents and shares her negative
experience resulting in forming a real-life relationship. Clemencia goes through seeing
different events in her parents’ life, which turned her to be different than others.
Clemencia’s mom, American born Mexican and father from Mexico and their family
structure, which totally forces Clemencia to turn into disrespectful and cruel human being.
In the other story, “Optimists” written by Richard Ford, a man named Frank recalls his past
when he was fifteen and realizes that the most important thing in life can change suddenly
without notice and recovery. Frank the protagonist, who believes that his family is
optimistic lost the admiration after the series of events that he encountered which makes
him difficult to ignore resulting the changes of lives of him.
Robert Fulghum once said, “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they
are always watching you.” Children are like clay. As we can make different forms of clay,
we can shape the future of a person in their childhood. Children spend most of the time
with their parents. So, childhood time is very precious to them as it can trigger how they
handle when it comes to life and relationship. Children’s action is highly influenced by the
behavior they see and language they hear in their home. In the both story as well,
Clemencia and Frank want to enjoy their life as others and have a relationship however,
having traumatized by their parents’ in their childhood they cannot rely on others for
anything that makes them fearful all the time unable to create any relationship.
Through associations with parents’ children figure out how to trust others, control their
feelings and collaborate with the world; they build up a world’s feelings as sheltered or
risky, and come to comprehend their own worth as people. Clemencia relationship with her
mom and the way it builds keep the story moving. Clemencia’s mom view of saying
“Never Marry a Mexican” and her relationship with Clemencia’s father bring her where
she is now. Clemencia tells that her mother was unfaithful to his dad even when he was
sick, which see can’t forgive her “ who she saw even while my father was sick” (182). She
