The Girl Next Door Question #2:

2) What constitutes a good mother or parent? List your criteria for a good parent and discuss the ways in which the two mothers in this essay do or do not meet the criteria.

I think a good mother should be understanding and loving to a child. They should be protective but also willing to let their child go when the time is right. The should be able to understand when a child makes a mistake but also be firm when they need to be punished. They need to teach the child right from wrong, and give them examples of what they can and cannot do. They must be a good example for their child.

I think Sedaris' mom knows right from wrong and has taught it to her child. However I think that she has a problem from letting her go and she still continuously judges on her mistakes. This can be a good thing but it seems more like she rubs it in when her daughter makes a mistake. Brandi's mom constitutes everything that is wrong with a mom. She doesn't care about Brandi, she sets a bad example for her child and doesn't seem to care about her at all.