NPR's Book of the Day Honor Jones' 'Sleep' explores how our childhoods influence who we are as parents
May 27, 2025
Honor Jones discusses her novel, focusing on how childhood experiences shape parenting styles. The protagonist wrestles with the balance between creating safety and fostering independence in her children. They delve into complex mother-daughter dynamics and the challenges of urban parenting in New York City. The conversation also highlights the messy realities of raising kids versus societal expectations, along with how writing can transform personal experiences into meaningful narratives.
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Complex Impact of Childhood
- Childhood can be both picture-perfect and perfectly awful, deeply influencing later life as a parent.
- Protecting children while avoiding raising them to be afraid is a central parental challenge explored in the novel.
Parenting Influenced by Own Parents
- Parental decisions are often influenced by the parent's relationship with their own parents.
- Raising children involves constant second-guessing and balancing protection with freedom.
Parenting's Instant Expectation Adjustment
- Margaret pulls her daughter back forcefully after spotting a dead rat, fearing she may have caused injury.
- Parenting often means quickly lowering expectations to prioritize children's safety above all else.
