Tough Love

Grande, R. (2012). The Distance Between Us: A Memoir. New York, NY: Washington Square Press.

Throughout the memoir, Reyna discusses the abuse they received from her father.  Many times she would talk about the times her father would go into a rage because of alcoholism. There were times where she tried to see how his life growing up made him the person he was and that she kept trying to forgive him for the things he would do to her and her siblings. Because of this attitude though, she was shaped into the person she became. She became a legal citizen and escaped that life of poverty and abuse. 

So many families suffer this same abuse, especially those in poverty. I've heard so many stories of people growing up getting beat by their father who are on an alcoholic rampage and everyday coming home from school they wouldn't know if they were going to get beat or not. Looking at where they are now, they've made huge successes of themselves and bettered their lives. I believe part of this is because they don't want to ever go through that pain of not knowing what they would come home to whether it's physical abuse, a financial situation, or any other factors. It's like Reyna was almost bringing up the point that if her father wouldn't have treated them the way he did, she may not be the person she is today. Sometimes tough love is what shapes a person to be the absolute best they can be.