Division of the Department of Economic Security, in the course of the police investigation, that I had no legal claim to Turtle. 173
Taylor ensures Cynthia that Turtle’s aunt just asked her to take Turtle and Taylor guarantees Turtle’s relatives do not want her 173. Taylor is very anxious that
Turtle will be taken by the state home. Then Cynthia says that if a child has no legal guardian she becomes a ward of the state.
“The state of Arizona has a claim,” she said. “If a child has no legal guardian she becomes a ward of the state.”
“You mean, like orphan homes, that kind of thing?” “That kind of thing, yes. There’s a chance that you could adopt her
eventually, depending on how long you’ve been a resident of the state, but you would have to qualify through the state agency. It would depend on a
number of factors, including your income and stability.”
… “How soon would this have to happen?” I asked.
“It will take two or three weeks for the paperwork to get to a place where
it’s going to get noticed. After that, someone from Child Protection and Placement will be in touch with you.” 174
Firstly, Taylor is thick-headed that she thinks it will be better for Turtle to live in the state house. However, Lou Ann and Mattie encourage Taylor that she can be a
good mother for Turtle 177. Finally, Taylor realizes that she decides to adopt Turtle. Cynthia then helps Taylor by giving her a name someone who can
formulate the document 181. In conclusion, Taylor’s avoidant motivation in adopting Turtle is that she avoids Turtle being taken by the state home.
3. Taylor’s Achievement Motivation in Adopting the Indian Child
McClelland in Stipek’s Motivation to Learn 9 claimed achievement motivation as a consequence of parents’ behavior toward children in achievement
situations. It indicates that parents have a role in constructing children’s trait in
achievement situation, especially in early childhood. Taylor’s high achievement motivation appears since she was a child. Her mother always encourages her in
everything she did as if she did a great job. When I was just the littlest kid I would go pond fishing of a Sunday and
bring home the boniest mess of blue-gills and maybe a bass the size of your thumb, and the way Mama would carry on you would think I’d
caught the famous big lunker in Shep’s lake that old men were always chewing their tobacco and thinking about. “That’s my big girl bringing
home the bacon,” she would say, and cook those things and serve them up like Thanksgiving for the two of us.
I love fishing those old mud-bottomed ponds. Partly because she would be proud of whatever I dragged out, but I just loved sitting still. 2
Although she only goes fishing, but her mother respects whatever she got. Franken 365 states several studies in the experimental literature show that when
parents emphasized or encouraged early independence and mastery, children scored higher in need for achievement. Another example is when Taylor is
waiting for whether or not she is accepted to work in Pittman County Hospital, her mother ensures her that she will get the job.
“Earl Wickentot my hind foot” is what Mama said. “Girl, I’ve seen you eat a worm whole when you were five. He’s no better than you are, and
none of them Candy Stripers either.” Still, I believed that’s who he would choose, and I told her so. 4
Taylor’s mother always expects the best from Taylor, which is why Taylor always tries to do her best in everything she does.
There were two things about Mama. One is she always expected the best out of me. And the other is that then no matter what I did, whatever I came
home with, she acted like it was the moon I had just hung up in the sky and plugged in all the stars. Like I was that good. 10
Taylor’s achievement motivation still remains till she is adult especially in adopting Turtle. Taylor is an optimist person. When she decides to do something,
she is sure she will finish it well. Weiner 363-364 clarifies that mastery might be important for achievement, but it does not guarantee that you will achieve your
goals. Being an optimist, for example, might be the most important factor in achieving goals. Taylor’s optimistic that she can adopt Turtle legally helps her in
finding ways to adopt Turtle. Individuals high in achievement needs are conceptualized as ‘hope’ rather than ‘fear’ oriented Weiner 189. She tries to be
positive thinking and she has great hope in finding Turtle’s relatives. “Damn it, Lou Ann, you’ve been telling me till you were blue in the face
to do something, take action, think positive, blah, blah, blah. I’m trying to think positive here.”
“Sorry.” “What other choice have I got than to go? If I just sit here on my hands,
then they take her.” “I know. You’re right.”
“If her relatives want her back, then I’ll think of something. We’ll cut that fence when we come to it.”
“What if you can’t find them? Sorry.” “I’ll find them.” 183
However, while Taylor cannot find Turtle’s relatives, she is still optimistic that there is a way to adopt Turtle legally.
But it also occurred to me to wonder why I had come this far. Generally speaking, I am not a fool. I must have wanted something, and wanted it
badly, to believe that hard in snipes. “I can’t give up,” I said as I turned the car around. I smacked my palms on
the steering wheel again and again. “I just can’t. I want to go to Lake o’ the Cherokees. Don’t even ask me why.” 203
Taylor tries hard to find a way so she can admit Turtle as her legal child even though it may be dangerous and take a risk.
Achievement motives can be defined as motive to master challenging task, to accomplish something difficult as well and as quickly as possible, to strive to
do something as rapidly and as independently as possible, and to overcome
obstacles McClelland 46. Taylor feels optimistic in her achievement, which is adopting Turtle legally as quickly as possible. She starts being optimistic that she
can adopt Turtle is when she decides to pick Esperanza and Estevan, the illegal immigrants, up to Oklahoma and she will look for Turtle’s relatives.
I sat down on the bench. “Listen, I’ve made up my mind about something. I’m going to drive Esperanza and Estevan to a safe house in Oklahoma.
And while I’m there I’m going to see if I can find any Turtle’s relatives.” 183
Taylor wants to find Turtle’s relatives as soon as possible so that they can sign the legal document for Turtle. However, she cannot find Turtle’s relatives 202.
Taylor finds another way to adopt Turtle, then she asks a help to Esperanza and Estevan. “Later that night I asked Esperanza and Estevan if they
would be willing to do one more thing with me. For me, really. I explained that it was a favor, a very big one, and then I explained what it was.” 211. Taylor asks
Esperanza and Estevan to pretend as Turtle’s parents. Afterwards, they meet Mr. Armistead, the one who can formulate the legal document 212. They create a
story that Esperanza and Estevan always move because of Estevan’s job, so they will entrust their daughter, Turtle, to Esperanza’s sister, Taylor. Since Esperanza
has ever lost his daughter, she acts like she really lost her daughter once again 212-215. Fortunately, Mr. Armistead believes the story and he creates an official
document. We, the undersigned, Mr. Steven Tipec Two Two and Mrs. Hope Roberta
Two Two, being the sworn natural parents of April Turtle Two Two, do hereby grant custody of our only daughter to Ms. Taylor Marietta Greer,
who will from this day forward become her sole guardian and parent.
We do solemnly swear and testify to our soundness of mind and freedom of will.
Signed before witnesses on this ________ day of _________, in the office of Jonas Wilford Armistead, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 215-216
In summary, it can be said that Taylor has achievement motivation since she was a child and it still remains till she is adult. Taylor’s first achievement
motivation in adopting Turtle is that she is optimist that she can adopt Turtle. Being optimist can be the most important factor in achieving goals. Second,
Taylor has a great hope rather than fear in adopting Turtle. This condition is one of the characteristic of achievement motivation. The last is Taylor’s motivation in
accomplishing something difficult, adopting Turtle, as well and as quickly as possible.
4. Taylor’s Affiliation Motivation in adopting the Indian Child
