4.3 Posey’s Influence on Chick Benetto
This part intends to discuss the influence made by Posey as the mother to Chick as the son. Conger in Adolescence and Youth: Psychological Development
in a Changing World states that family structure and parental influence are usually factors number one to shape children’s development Conger 220. As we know
that family influences individual directly or indirectly. We can say directly because family shapes the personality development by molding and
communication. The role of a mother is to give influence for the children, as well. The influence can be seen from the relationship between mother and son during
childhood and adulthood, as well. The influence discussed here mainly is seen by the application of Erikson’s psychosocial development.
4.3.1 Posey’s Influence in Chick Benetto’s Childhood
Husband states that the earliest major determining influence is the mother. During the first five or six years the father is of far less importance, since he rarely
sees his children except for an hour or two in the evening. Care and protection come first and precede advice, guidance, and social assistance. Therefore, it is no
wonder that the mother occupies the ore sentimental place in our life and culture Husband 250.
As a mother, Posey Benetto has a very big influence to Charles Benetto during Charles Benetto’s childhood. She becomes the single parent since she gets
divorced. This influence is a usual thing that happens in a divorce family because
“as the husband or father has left the home, mother has turned naturally to the children. Children become the target of love-starved life Kane 67.”
This influence can be seen from the novel especially from Chick’s personal experience with his mother. The first happens when Chick is still three
years old. Chick Benetto has a very good memory about his relationship with his mother. The first ever memory comes from the experience when he is still 3 years
old. Chick says, “Have you ever isolated your earliest childhood memory? Mine is when I was three years old Albom 190.” At that time he and his mother are on
the carnival near their house. He feels so thirsty but they cannot find water to drink. His mother knows this and she lifts Chick in his armpits to queue in front of
a fountain. She breaks the queue to save him. She tells Chick to drink a lot of water as he needs. Chick feels this experience is so amazing because he still feels
his mother’s arm around him and the bubbling water that he drinks.
4.3.1.1 One to Three Years
The name of this stage is autonomy versus shame and doubt. Based on Erikson’s types of psychosocial development, between the ages of one to three,
children begin to assert their independence by walking away from their mother, picking which toy to play with, and making choices about what they like to wear,
to eat etc. Children in this stage need encouragements and supports to be independent Feist and Feist 300.
The same thing happens here, at the age of three Chick goes with his mother in a carnival. In a carnival children usually are very happy because there
are so many toys, so many entertaining places, funny clown etc. Chick is very thirsty because he plays everywhere and it makes him tired. Posey supports her
son to become more confident when she asks Chick to drink water in a fountain. Here Chick actually is still frightened to get the water by himself but his mother
strengthens him to drink water as many as he needs. Another Chick’s memory of his childhood with his mother is when he
enters kindergarten. At this time, he is so afraid to be left by his mother. He is crying and asks his mother not to leave him alone. He thinks that if his mother
leaves he will lose his mother. Then Posey supports her child by giving advice that he will never lose his mother. Posey also gives a letter to be a replacement of
her absence. She wiped my eyes with a tissue from her purse, then hugged me good
bye. I can still see her walking backward, blowing me kisses, her lips painted in red Revlon, her hair swept up above her ears. I waved good-bye
with the letter. It didn’t occur to her, I guess that I was just starting school and didn’t know how to read. That was my mother. It was the thought that
counted Albom 28.
Furthermore, during her son’s childhood, Posey always tells Chick about
this and that. She wants Chick obeys her rules. Chick thinks that his mother is a nag. He does not want to be over-controlled by his mother. He wants to be more
autonomy without his mother’s rules. Chick thinks that, “…. For most of my childhood I considered her a nag. Was I wearing my galoshes? Did I have my
jacket? Did I finish my schoolwork? Why my pants were ripped Albom 29.”
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