It shows that Mrs. X really gives too much control on Grayer’s diet. It means that she forces Grayer to eat whatever kind of food that she has prepared for him. It
seems that Mrs. X really does not care whether Grayer likes the food or not. Unfortunately, Grayer does not have any choice, so he eats his dinner in the
bathroom, otherwise he will not get his dinner. Therefore, it is also the proof that there are too much control from Mrs. X to Grayer.
4.1.2.3 Considering a Child as a Marital Status Only
Children sometimes are seen as providing a value that they can fulfill certain needs of their parents. Their values can be varied, depending on their
parents’ satisfactory needs. One of the values of children for their parents is to enhance parents’ status because parenthood is thought to establish parents as truly
mature, stable, and acceptable members of adult community Nye 153.
In the novel, Grayer receives such treatments from his parents. It means that having a child is just a symbol in a marriage of a very rich couple, without
considering that a child needs protections, affections, and careful treatments. The example is when Grayer gets very bad cough and ear infection, Annie cannot
make a call to Mrs. X, because the receptionist of a spa says that Mrs. X has been in her spa treatment and cannot be disturbed.
Yes, well, he has two more days to go, but his cough got really bad. I tried to call you. She bristles. Well, Nanny, I think weve discussed
where we prefer for Grayer to eat. You can go now, Ive got it covered. I focus on smiling. Okay, Ill just go and get changed.
Kraus McLaughlin 142 It makes Mrs. X not only a bad person, but also a terrible mother when she is
going to a spa and her son is suffering from a very bad cough, ear infection and
fever in the same time. Noller 205 states that mother-child interactions tend to be dominated by
caretaking. Mothers communicate with their children, stimulate them, express positive affection to them, and perform the basic childcare tasks more than do
fathers. Noller 136 also states that children with authoritarian parents, who are high in control but low in affection, tend to be less happy, less trusting, and more
withdrawn than other children. In the novel, Grayer shows those attitudes, because his mother always choose certain friends for Grayer, who are considered
approriate by her. Therefore Grayer does not have any right to choose his own friends. It can be seen when Grayer wants to have Cristabelle to play with him,
Annie does not let Grayer to do that, because Mrs. X has already chosen Alexander to accompany Grayer at that time.
“Grayer, Mommy said you have a play date with Alex,” I say. He shrughs. “How about Cristabelle? Cristabelle, want to have a play
date?” Apparently, one play date’s as good as another.” “Grover, it’s not Cristabelle, sweetie. But we can have a play date with
Cristabelle another day. Would you like that?” Grayer huffs off. At the age of four he seems already to know that if the
date has to be postponed it probably isn’t going to happen. Kraus McLaughlin 46
It shows that Grayer feels less happy, less trusting, and more withdrawn than
other children when he is not able to choose a play date’s friend for himself. It happens, because Mrs. X has already chosen play date’s friends who is suitable
for Grayer. Therefore Grayer always feels upset when he have to play with a play date’s friend who is already chosen for him by Mrs. X
Further Nye states that one of the values of children for their parents is to enhance parents’ status because parenthood is thought to establish parents as truly
