My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life
What’s inside...
The narrator discusses how everyone has positive things to say about their mom, highlighting her nice appearance, great baking skills, and comforting nature. However, the narrator also expresses embarrassment over their mom's public displays of affection and loud jokes, leading them to believe that their mom is trying to ruin their life. The story ends with the narrator questioning this belief.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the main character feels when they believe their mom is trying to ruin their life? Can you relate to any of their feelings?
What are some ways the mom shows her love for her child in the story, even if it might not seem obvious?
If you were in the main character’s shoes, how would you handle the situations presented in the book?
What did you learn about handling misunderstandings between parents and children from this book?
How can we work together as a family to ensure that we all feel understood and valued, like the characters strive to do by the end of the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing a personal anecdote about a time you felt misunderstood by your parents or guardians to help your child feel more comfortable sharing their feelings.
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book’s events by asking them to draw parallels to their own life experiences.
Acknowledge your child’s feelings and perspectives about the story, validating their feelings as you discuss the characters’ actions and reactions.
Use open-ended questions to foster critical thinking and deeper understanding of the characters' motives and emotions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding parental love and intentions
Explanation: In the story, the daughter perceives her mother’s actions as attempts to ruin her life, but they are actually expressions of care and love.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to interpret their parents’ actions from a perspective of love and concern, helping to foster a more harmonious family relationship.
Example Lesson: Perspective taking
Explanation: The book portrays the mother’s behavior from the daughter’s view, and helps readers see the disconnect between the daughter’s interpretations and the mother's intentions.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to consider other people’s perspectives in daily interactions, promoting empathy and better communication.
Example Lesson: The importance of communication
Explanation: Misunderstandings in the story stem from lack of communication between the mother and daughter.
Real-World Application: This underscores the value of open dialogue in resolving conflicts and improving relationships, whether at home or in school.
Example Lesson: Coping with emotions
Explanation: The daughter experiences frustration and embarrassment due to her misconceptions about her mother’s actions.
Real-World Application: Children can learn effective strategies for managing their emotions, aiding in their emotional development and interpersonal skills.
Example Lesson: Recognizing humor in everyday situations
Explanation: The book adopts a humorous tone in depicting the mother-daughter relationship.
Real-World Application: It helps children develop a sense of humor, making them more resilient and capable of handling life’s challenges with a positive attitude.