To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters the meaning of the object photographed.
Joan DidionRead
I don't think anybody feels like they're a good parent. Or if people think they're good parents, they ought to think again.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Parenting often comes with self-doubt, and even those who feel confident may need to reflect on their approach.
In this quote, Joan Didion expresses the idea that many parents struggle with the perception of their own parenting abilities. Rather than feeling entirely confident in their skills, most parents experience doubt and insecurity, suggesting that the complexities of parenthood require continual reflection and self-assessment.
Themes
ParentingSelf-DoubtReflectionInsecurityIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
During a parenting workshop, this quote can be used to resonate with parents experiencing doubt.
More from Joan Didion
All quotes βThe truth is, it's easier for me to write than talk... to express the state I'm in at any time.
Joan DidionRead
Memories are what you no longer want to remember.
Joan DidionRead
It was clear, for example, in 1988 that the political process had already become perilously remote from the electorate it was meant to represent.
Joan DidionRead
I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?
Joan DidionRead
Do not whine... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.
Joan DidionRead
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There never was a woman like her. She was gentle as a dove and brave as a lioness... The memory of my mother and her teachings were, after all, the only capital I had to start life with, and on that capital I have made my way.
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Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends.
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The first duty to children is to make them happy. If you have not made them so, you have wronged them. No other good they may get can make up for that.
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