Tito's parents

Discuss the March 2016 Eating Bull by Carrie Rubin.

(Note, Carrie Rubin's previous book The Seneca Scourge was book of the month in December 2012. :) )
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Tito's parents

Post by Gravy »

Did you think it was fair of Tito's parents to stop Jeremy coming to see him? Did you agree with their reasoning?
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Post by gali »

I thought it was very unfair of them. I didn't agree with their reasoning, and thought they were overprotective of Tito.
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Post by bookowlie »

I think they had a lot of issues due to their other son's death, so they were hyper-anxious and over-protective about everything. I think their actions were very realistic, even if it was unfair. I feel bad because Tito and Jeremy really bonded.
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Post by Gravy »

I actually understood their reasoning, but felt that they were wrong for a few reasons. For one, Jeremy was good for Tito, he didn't want to go along with the Facebook prank. And for another, Jeremy needed some stability, and while that wasn't their responsibility, a lot of kids receive that from someplace outside their own home, and I feel like they could have offered that to him.

But I understand that not all people can care about another person's child. I would like to think that I would act different in their situation.
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Post by gali »

Gravy wrote:I actually understood their reasoning, but felt that they were wrong for a few reasons. For one, Jeremy was good for Tito, he didn't want to go along with the Facebook prank. And for another, Jeremy needed some stability, and while that wasn't their responsibility, a lot of kids receive that from someplace outside their own home, and I feel like they could have offered that to him.

But I understand that not all people can care about another person's child. I would like to think that I would act different in their situation.
I agree and feel the same.
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Post by KAV »

Gravy wrote:I actually understood their reasoning, but felt that they were wrong for a few reasons. For one, Jeremy was good for Tito, he didn't want to go along with the Facebook prank. And for another, Jeremy needed some stability, and while that wasn't their responsibility, a lot of kids receive that from someplace outside their own home, and I feel like they could have offered that to him.

But I understand that not all people can care about another person's child. I would like to think that I would act different in their situation.
I agree with you. I understand the reasoning, but it sucks that the parents chose to go in this direction. I understand the parents not wanting them to walk home in an unsafe neighborhood, but I don't understand why they wouldn't let Jeremy come over just to hang out. They would have been constantly supervised in a safe environment and both boys still could be friends. Everyone wins.
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Post by MsMartha »

bookowlie wrote:I think they had a lot of issues due to their other son's death, so they were hyper-anxious and over-protective about everything.
I think you're right. My sense is they were in such a bad way themselves that it was just too difficult to try to help Jeremy, although their intentions seemed to be good.
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Post by Momlovesbooks »

I would like to think, under normal circumstances they would have supported Jeremy and offered him a safe haven in their home. They were dealing with too much fallout from their other son's death. It seems unfair, but they are just being protective of their only son.
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Post by kimmyschemy06 »

I know a lot of parents who are l like that, so I think the characters were very realistic. However, I feel bad for both Jeremy and Tito..
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Post by Heidi M Simone »

I can see why Tito's parents felt the way they did about Jeremy. Having the lawsuit bring the spotlight on Jeremy and having the murders being connected to those who are obese would scare the living daylights out of me too. I would obviously be more scared for Jeremy, but if I had a son that was killed before, I probably wouldn't want to take any chances that the same thing could happen to my other son.

I don't think it was fair for Tito and Jeremy to be separated, but I can see their reasoning.
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Post by chytach18- »

It's very complicated. Tito's parents were clearly overprotecting Tito. They were clearly unfair towards Jeremy. However, considering their situation, it is impossible to judge.
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Post by bluemel4 »

hsimone wrote:I can see why Tito's parents felt the way they did about Jeremy. Having the lawsuit bring the spotlight on Jeremy and having the murders being connected to those who are obese would scare the living daylights out of me too. I would obviously be more scared for Jeremy, but if I had a son that was killed before, I probably wouldn't want to take any chances that the same thing could happen to my other son.

I don't think it was fair for Tito and Jeremy to be separated, but I can see their reasoning.
I agree that their overprotection makes sense given their older son was killed. I wouldn't want my already bullied child to be caught up in a friendship with a person in the limelight for controversial reasons. It would make me extremely nervous. On the other hand giving Jeremy and Tito a safe place to be together, like their home, would have been a more reasonable compromise rather than just separating the two.
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Post by Heidi M Simone »

bluemel4 wrote:
hsimone wrote:I can see why Tito's parents felt the way they did about Jeremy. Having the lawsuit bring the spotlight on Jeremy and having the murders being connected to those who are obese would scare the living daylights out of me too. I would obviously be more scared for Jeremy, but if I had a son that was killed before, I probably wouldn't want to take any chances that the same thing could happen to my other son.

I don't think it was fair for Tito and Jeremy to be separated, but I can see their reasoning.
I agree that their overprotection makes sense given their older son was killed. I wouldn't want my already bullied child to be caught up in a friendship with a person in the limelight for controversial reasons. It would make me extremely nervous. On the other hand giving Jeremy and Tito a safe place to be together, like their home, would have been a more reasonable compromise rather than just separating the two.
I agree! This question seems like such a simple one, but it gives you some food for thought :D
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Post by MatthewAlexander »

I understand their reasoning, but don't agree with them. After their other son's death, they were very protective of Tito and thought being around Jeremy made him a target. While I can see where they were coming from, they were wrong. They were smothering and sheltering Tito far too much.
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Post by V_bansal2912 »

i don't think stopping Jeremy from meeting Tito was the right way to go, but loss of a child before, will make any parent much more protective than before.
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