Theme: Money

There is a consistent theme of money within Stitches: A Memoir. A word that never seemed to stop coming out of Betty's mouth. It was her prime concern and a thing that consistently infuriated her. She was constantly asking how much it would cost, or if David understood that things cost money.

For example, when David asks if he will need to go to the doctor again his mother angrily commented about how that would cost money, but how it was also in short supply.

Ironically, Betty went on a shopping spree before the family took care of the "cyst" in David's neck, carelessly spending money on a new car, new furniture, and so on, which carried on for eight pages. David waited three and a half years for the surgery that cost him his voice.  

Betty sent David away to boarding school (which isn't cheap) and ultimately lead to being a waste of time, and money in her opinion. It also lead to David's eventual and much needed psychiatric help. Which Betty scoffed about being a waste of her precious dollars. 

Teaching children about money, how its made and what things cost is all good information. David was constantly having the cost of things thrown in his face as if he didn't understand. If he didn't this would have been a  good way of making a connection with him between mother and son. In a positive way throughout his life.

http://www.parents.com/parenting/money/family-finances/teaching-kids-about-money-an-age-by-age-guide/





Small, David. Stitches: A Memoir--. New York: W.W. Norton, 2009. Print.