2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Freddie sees his mother and estranged father secretly meeting and goes nuts, prompting him to become “new Freddie.” He decides to defy his mother and solidify his relationship with Elin. Surprisingly, both Sam and Elin encourage him to talk to his mother. Did you understand his feelings of betrayal or was he being immature about the situation? Was it the right advice for him to meet with his father? Was his decision to move in with Elin a rash one or the right next step for the two of them?

I understand his feelings. He lived with his mother's pain for years. He watched her work many hours and still live paycheck to paycheck. She cried. Not only that he blamed himself for his father leaving. His mother should have told him that his father was in town.

He needed to talk to his father and his mother. Sam and Elin were right to encourage him to face the betrayal.

I also believe it was a good decision to move in with Elin. He let his mother control his life too much. It wasn't healthy in my opinion.

At the beginning, I felt that Freddie could be excused for still thinking about his dad as the ten-year-old boy who felt deserted and betrayed; now he thinks both parents are in on something that they've kept secret from him.

Charlene, they were keeping a secret from him. Regardless of his reaction, I think his mother should have told him his father was in town before she did. How long did she plan to keep it from him?

When it comes to his mother, Freddie is still a child in certain ways and the whole "I'm not speaking to you" is a sign of this immaturity.

That said, his mother should have been honest about meeting with his father. She needs to stop treating him like a child.

Perhaps this whole situation will help her let go and him to grow up and be more independent. Elin may be a good influence with this.

Freddie was being very immature about seeing his mom and dad together. He is viewing an adult situation through the eyes and emotions of that abandoned ten-year-old. Once Elin and Sam both got him to stop thinking like that ten-year-old he was able to see that they were right and he needed to talk to his mother and eventually meet with his father.

I'm not sure moving in at this stage was a wise decision for Elin and Freddie. I think they could have benefitted from some more time just dating and not making this commitment at this time.

I think we all agree that Freddie’s reaction was of that 10-year old abandoned boy, understandably. It’s how we relate to our parents. Thank goodness he got advice from Elin and Sam to bring him into the present.

Anita, under normal circumstances I’d agree with you about him waiting longer to move in with Elin. In this situation, it’s probably good for him to distance himself from his mother. He’s going to grow up fast.