"The Other Wes Moore" : The Importance of Good Parenting

     Wes Moore, the author of "The Other Wes Moore" tackles many themes in his book such as loss, violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, and maturity. However, the theme that resonated most with me was the role of parents in children's lives. Both Wes Moores had absent fathers; one died due to premature death and the other wasn't around because of his alcohol addiction. Regardless of this, both men had very hard-working mothers who struggled financially and with the horrid circumstances around them. Not only did they have to provide for their families by working long hours, but they also had to protect their children from the violence and drug world that surrounded them.

      I am thankful to have had both my parents with me since I was born. Therefore, reading about children who grow up with abusive or absent parents breaks my heart because I begin to realize how much they have missed out on. Having both parents is crucial to a child's upbringing; a child needs both a mother and a father to develop a strong personality. Unfortunately, many children in low-income and drug-ridden neighborhoods end up losing one. 

     Wes Moore speaks highly of the women in his and the other Wes Moore's life because he wanted to acknowledge the work they have done to raise both of them. They suffered a lot, and most of it by themselves, to make sure their kids went to school and had food on the table. But no matter what they did, they could never fill the shoes of the men missing from their children's lives. Having both parents around affects a person emotionally and physically. For one Wes Moore, it had a positive effect as it made him stronger as a man. However, for the other Wes Moore, it made him a bad father as he did not realize his role as a parent. 

The above video shows one of the ways parents affect their children. The narrator's father had a lasting impact on him in regards to education; in his life, he stressed education and proved his dedication to education with his steady job. However, the only aspects the other Wes Moore remembered of his father were negative. This further proves that parents have a major effect on their children and that's why it is important for both parents to play active roles in their children's lives.