reading.
2. Family Influence in the Process of Adolescence
Family, especially parents, has responsibilities to give the right information to their children as a tool in understanding a social life. In addition,
family also should provide love, protection and guidance to help children build their confident and self-esteem. There are some indicators which are show how
Margaret ‘s family takes responsibility and provides her with love and care.
a. Parent-child Relationship
The quality of parent-child relationships shows considerable stability over time. The parent-child relationship that Margaret and her parents have is a good
relationship. Margaret‘s parents always give support when Margaret wants to do something.
You said I could choose when I grow up But youre not ready to choose yet, Margaret I just want to try it out, I argued. Im going to
try church too, so dont get hysterical I am not hysterical I just think its foolish for a girl of your age to bother herself with religion. Can I go? I
asked. Im not going to stop you, my mother said. Fine. Then Ill go. Blume, 1970: 56
The quotation above shows that Margaret as a girl who can make a decision for herself and has bravery to tell what she wants. It can be seen when
Margaret tells her parents that she wants to go to the church. In addition, Margaret also tells her parents that she wants to go to the temple as well. It sounds odd for
her parents hearing Margaret‘s decision. They regard it as a wrong time for Margaret to choose religion, but Margaret insists them on allowing her to go to a
religious service. However, Margaret‘s parents allow her to go if she really wants
to go anyway. Support that Margaret‘s parents give to her is not only to an important
matter but also to a simple matter. Finally my mother told me to have a good day. She kissed my cheek and
gave me a pat on the back. I walked down to Nancys house Blume, 1970: 25.
Margaret‘s mother gives a support to her when she has to face her first day school in new place. She kisses Margaret and pats her on the back, also wishes her
have a good day in school. Another simple support that Margaret‘s parents give to her is when she
tells her mother that she wants to wear bra. Margaret‘s mother appreciates her decision to use bra and promises that will bring her to buy bra on
Saturday. Not only Margaret‘s mother who appreciates her decision to wear bra, her father also has his thought on it. My father congratulated me
at dinner. Well, youre really growing up, Margaret. No more little girl.Blume, 1970: 44
Besides, Margaret‘s mother also comforts her when she starts to worry about something. The biggest anxiousness that Margaret has is about her period.
She always complains why her period is not coming yet. How old were you Mom
—when you got it? Uh … I think I was fourteen. Fourteen Thats crazy. Im not waiting until Im fourteen. Im
afraid theres not much you can do about it, Margaret. Some girls menstruate earlier than others. I had a cousin who was sixteen before she
started. Do you suppose that could happen to me? Ill die if it does If you dont start by the time youre fourteen Ill take you to the doctor. Now
stop worrying Blume, 1970: 100
Quotation above describes Margaret‘s anxiousness about period that she does not get yet. She worries a lot knowing her friends already get their period.
She even complains and asks her mother when she got her period for the first time. Her mother tells Margaret that she gets it when she was fourteen. Margaret
is afraid that her friends will think that she is not normal because she does not even get her period. Therefore, Margaret‘s mother tries to comfort Margaret by
explain to her that every girl has her own period time, some girls menstruate earlier and some others menstruate a bit late. She tells Margaret not to worry
about that because she still has a few time to wait her period comes but she cannot wait any longer. She says that she will die if she needs to wait until she is
fourteen. At the end, Margaret‘s mother says that she will take her to the doctor if Margaret‘s period does not start by the time in her fourteen.
b. Parenting