Synthesis Essay

The short story called, "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." by 'Neil Millar' shows the most respectful approach of parents to their children rather than "Be-ers and Doers" by 'Budge Wilson' in many ways. I feel that the story by "Neil Millar" is told in a calmer manner of speaking rather than the one written by "Budge Wilson". Everyone grows up differently but the effects grow depending on the matter of time when you are taught to become responsible. Every parent teaches their child different aspects at different times. Some are earlier than others and some must be later.

In the short story, "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." by 'Neil Millar' shows the most respectful approach of parents to their children because when they talk to their children, they make them understand in a calm voice and not be all tensed which will just confuse the child. Also they make their children understand by not forcing them to do chores, but telling them how responsibility will grow on you later in life, and eventually you will have to learn it at some point of life. They explain to their kids much more in a depth concept which makes their kids want to learn so they will be well prepared for the future. "Parents are guides and leaders to their children, not a nanny." Parents show their children and make them realize how important it is to learn it and they keep pushing until they want to learn it because it is only your parents who truly love you. Neil Millar starts his inspiring essay by setting the scene of, "a loving parent striving to give your children the best life you can offer", this is relating to most parents with their children. Neil is mainly setting his goal to help parents, "raise well-rounded, confident, considerate children that show gratitude and appreciation for all that is give to them". It is very clear that he shows that it is important to slowly develop a relationship with your child and then building from there will become a strong bond.


In the short story, "Be-ers and Doers" by 'Budge Wilson' shows a respectful approach of parents to their children but not as most respectful as it is done in the short story, "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask...". In "Be-ers and Doers", the parents tone of voice is told in a much forcing manner where you put your child in a position where he or she gets "fed up" and "doesn't care". Telling your child by making them understand is the main key in keeping a healthy relationship. If there is just yelling and forcing, the child will eventually never do anything because of the aggressive behavior. The mother in this story mainly focuses on having "doer" children rather than "be-er". She, herself is a "doer" and her loving husband was always the "be-er". "All the time she [was] talking, she'd be knitting up a storm, or mixing dough, or pushing a mop--hands forever and ever on the move." When she saw that Albert had a good report card, she still forced on him having a better one. Also he wasn't that great in math, and she kept forcing him to do better but he believed that he could count a grocery bill and besides that, math was useless to him. Although he was greatly successful in English. The mother mainly had high exceptions for her children, just like herself. Eventually as time passes by, forcing a child push he or she away from the parent. Albert got fed up and left in the end. He was working as a stevedore. He believed that he was living a happy life and he didn't need more to make him happy.

It is evident that in the short story, "The Most Powerful Question a Parent Can Ask..." by 'Neil Millar', shows the most respectful approach of parents to their children because there is not as much forcing as there is in "Be-ers and Doers". The way of respect is shown and understood in a calmer manner. The parents are basically just your guides or leaders to the future in front of you. The short story, "Be-ers and Doers" by 'Budge Wilson' shows that respect is important, but turning someone into who their not is just wrong. In order to do the right thing, it should also encounter the choice of who your making it to be. The mother in this story was always the "doer" and believed that her kids had to follow, but the stress and forcing behavior just pushed her child away from her. In order to maintain a proper relationship with your child, you must respect them the way you want to be respected.