Teenage Wasteland

Anne Tylers short story Teenage Wasteland illustrates a mothers struggle to understand and service of process her child. The story takes place in a middle class neighborhood, where the protagonist Daisy, is a mother of two and a housewife. Daisy tries to help her son Donny, a bullheaded and misunderstood teenager. Donny is a troubling teen who is rebellious and always seduces misfortune. When Daisy gets a c each from the principal of Donnys private school requesting a conference approximately Donnys poor grades and immature behavior, she does everything she can to help Donny grow and mature by hiring a tutor.Unfortunately, Daisy discovers that Cal, Donnys tutor, didnt help Donny raise his grade, but alternatively made his grade drop. Daisy noticed that Donny has showed well-nigh improvement in his behavior and attitude in school. Anne Tyler reveals that being a parent is never an easy job, some parents, like Daisy and Matt, have no control over their kids. Throughout Daisys lif e history she has tried to get a better brain of Donny, she wants to be around him and wishes to know what hes re every(prenominal)y like. As a mother Daisy is caring and interested in Donnys well-being, she is unassured because of Donny, and Donny is Daisys main priority.Like all mothers Daisy is interested in her childs well-being. In this case, Donnys well-being is all that she cares about. Daisy has gone through so much trouble in the past couple of weeks sightly for Donny to be happy. Daisy is very curious about Donny, he is very secretive and likes to keep things on the low. Well? What did you think? (Tyler. 260). Daisy asks for Donnys opinion, shes wants to know how he feels. Also, its as if his decision is the only thing that matters to her, she wants to know what his standards are.Daisy cares for Donny, she wants to communicate with him and get to know him. Daisy is insecure about herself because of Donnys behaviour towards her. Because of the way Donny treats her, Daisy feels no confidence even with the way she dresses. In this case, she is self-conscious because she feels that Donny is uncomfortable being around her. She becomes self-conscious over the slightest things that dont mean anything. Daisy held in her abdominal cavity in and gave Mr. Lanham a firm, responsible holdhake(Tyler. 258). Daisy tries to suck in her stomach when giving a handshake, thinking that she isoverweight.She wished shed worn nylons instead of human knee socks(Tyler. 257). Also, she is insecure about the tiniest things like the way shes dressed, she gets concerned over socks thinking that they make her look unprofessional and ignorant. She tries the cover and hide the parts where she is insecure about, like the things that may embarrass her. Daisys main person of interest seems to be Donny. She finds Donny intrigueing, he confuses her with his mixed emotions. In this case, Daisy wants to get to know Donny he confuses her alot, all mothers are curious about their child ren.When she picks Donny up from Cals hes having a great time, smiling and laughing which Dasiy has never seen that side of, but when he gets in the car he becomes mute and irritated a bit. Donny is causing trouble which is gaining him attention, shes putting all her care into him. She had always told Donny he had talent, was smart, was good with his hands(Tyler. 258). Donny has always been Daisys main priority, until his younger sister was born. But even after, he was still her main person of interest.Daisy puts all her attention into Donny, she tries to figure him out in every way she can, but she cant break him. She doesnt understand Donny and the cause of his actions. Donny tries to avoid his parents in any way he can, he ignores them and gets annoyed over everything they tell him to do. The start of all of Donnys ruckus is what brought Daisy to care about him, and what made him her main person of interest. Throughout Daisys life she has tried to get a better understanding of Do nny, she wants to be around him and wishes to know what hes really like.To conclude, Daisys desperate struggle to understanding and getting along with her son, Donny, comes down to them becoming even to a greater extent like strangers. Daisys plan on getting along with Donny fails terribly due to the cause of her hiring Cal, Donnys tutor. Soon she discovers that the cause of Donny acting rebellious, is because she didnt care too much about him before. If Daisy would have accepted Donny the way he was, and focused more on other things than him it would have probably turned out differently and he wouldnt have run away.