The parents from “The Glass Castle” choose to raise their kids a lot differently than most. From the article “What Makes a Good Parent?” Epstein has a list of the most important aspects of parenting. These aspects go in order from most important to least important. They are: love and affection, stress management, relationship skills, autonomy and independence, education and learning, life skills, behavioral management, health, religion, and safety.

         Jeannette’s mother, was very self-absorbed and wrapped up into her painting. However, her two strongest aspects of parenting was autonomy and independence and stress management. She let all her kids have all the independence as they wanted and never really bothered to involve herself into their lives. She also handled stress pretty well considering her situation. If I lived like that I would be the most stressed out person but she is very lax and calm most of the time. Her two worst aspects of parenting are love and affection and health. Jeannette’s mother never told the kids that she loved them or ever showed any kind of affection. She was very cold to her children. Also, she did not teach her kids anything about health and hygiene. The kids had to wear dirty clothes, go days without eating, and live in unsanitary conditions.  

         Jeannette’s father on the other hand, was more involved with the kids but had serious drinking problems that inhibited him from being a good parent. His best qualities that he had as a parent were love and affection and education and learning. He was the more affectionate out of the parents and the kids new that their dad truly cared about them. He also taught his kids a lot of things that helped them in the future. All the walls children were very intelligent and that was because of him. His two worst aspects are relationship skills and behavioral management. He treated Rose Marie (his wife) very badly in front of his kids. He also did not behave like a parent by not being responsible and not prioritizing his life well.