2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

It’s two months in and Kaylie has a secret boyfriend who she’s sneaking out to see in the middle of the night. Did you expect that to happen so quickly? Is she testing her boundaries or what?

A teen whose father died, like Kaylie, is going to test whether her aunt loves her and will give her boundaries, although she may not be conscious of this motive.

I can see her finding love with a boyfriend close to her age. I don't think that is testing her boundaries. The fact that she sneaks off to see him is.

Initially, I didn't understand why Kaylie decided to sneak around instead of telling Mercy about having a boyfriend. As the story went on, I felt like Kaylie didn't know how her aunt would react since Mercy was raised in a strict home.

Keeping Cade a secret and sneaking out in the middle of the night is pushing the boundaries hard and quickly. Kaylie’s feelings for Cade are strong but typical for a teen’s first relationship. They competed with her trust in her aunt, which is still developing. I don’t think she was testing her as much as she was exercising poor judgment because she didn’t know where Mercy stood.

They’ll get better, especially based on how Mercy handled the situation.

I think Kaylie believed Mercy would put a stop to the relationship if she knew about it, so she wasn't about to tell her. She'd sneak out to meet Cade instead. I'm glad Mercy handled it like she did instead of forbidding the relationship because they had been sneaking around.

I wonder what Mercy would have done if she had introduced him first.

Jonetta wrote: "I wonder what Mercy would have done if she had introduced him first."

I think she would have welcomed him. Her sister told her not to forbid Kaylie. I think she wants to be more welcoming than her father. She trust Pearl's guidance too.

Thanks for that reminder, Sharon! I hoped she’d handle it this way but couldn’t recall if there was something to point to that.

I think Mercy would have been OK with Cade dating Kaylie if she met him before they were caught running around at night, He does seem like a decent guy. He just needs new friends.

Frankly, I was shocked she was sneaking out meeting a 20 year old this soon after her father's death. I didn't get the feeling that she was testing boundaries as much as just being a teenager who's heart was all a flutter over the boy/man who's just become her first love. Mercy did the right think in not forbidding it, but rather setting boundaries on when & where she could see him. I think this demonstrated to Kaylie that Mercy did care for her and was concerned about her feelings as well. I'm not sure Mercy would have welcomed Cade if introduced to him first - I don't think she would have been unwelcoming or unfriendly to him, but rather cautious as she & Mercy are learning to navigate their relatively new relationship while giving each other the respect they deserve.

Maybe it was some sort of reaction to her father's death. It was only 2 months ago and they were close. So pushing the boundaries and acting out might be a way of dealing with her grief. And also she didn't know how Mercy would cope with it and this probably as also a contributing factor in keeping it secret. Or .... none of the above and it was just dumb teenage behaviour!

Life is different for both Mercy and Kaylie. They are trying to make things work in the new family.

I'm thinking that Kaylie might be a little jealous of Mercy's relationship with Truman too. She sees how they lean on each other, and she wants someone she doesn't need to share.

Jonetta wrote: "It’s two months in and Kaylie has a secret boyfriend who she’s sneaking out to see in the middle of the night. Did you expect that to happen so quickly? Is she testing her boundaries or what?"

I didn't view it as anything other than her being a teenage girl. She grew up with no mother and the only parent she knew died suddenly. She has no one to turn to except an aunt she never knew and Mercy is as extreme as the rest of her family just in a different way.

Kaylie doesn't really have anyone to confide in and I'm not sure she would have even confided in her father about the boyfriend if he would have been alive still. I also think she would have snuck out of her dad's house as well. A teenager is a teenager.

Christina T wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "It’s two months in and Kaylie has a secret boyfriend who she’s sneaking out to see in the middle of the night. Did you expect that to happen so quickly? Is she testing her boundarie..."

I agree with you Christina. Mercy is trying to figure out her new life while she struggles with all the teenage angst and hormones.