Can you fire a mom?

Throughout the first third of The Privileges, I found aspects of each character that I disapproved of however; the character Cynthia Morey proved the least likable in my opinion. Set mostly in the bustling city of New York, author Jonathon Dee, a native to his books principle setting, writes of the trials brought unto the young Adam and Cynthia Morey and their family. While focusing on Cynthia, Dee introduces her in the beginning of the book by saying that she would not be bothered "if things don't go perfectly" in reference to her wedding that day (6). This easy going statement indirectly characterizes her as relaxed foiling her against her mother Ruth who seems ready to crack like an egg. Dee continues to show Cynthia's evolving personality as she enters the foreign world of married life and eventually motherhood. His further description of Cynthia totally contradicts her former self as raising children also raises her nerves and a lacking sense of purpose. The once carefree and relaxed Cynthia has all but disappeared as the second chapter begins with her rowdy five and six year old children fighting. Cynthia’s inability to control her children shows as she “was crying” when they continued to fight (37). Although this action creates pathos for mothers who cannot control their children, I found it extremely aggravating as her weakness continued to evolve into a question of her purpose in the world. This lack of confidence in herself continues when the children get older in that she could not “say no to very much” (82). I believe this indirectly characterizes Cynthia as a weak, bad mother as she wants to have her daughter see her as a friend rather than a parent. The fact that Cynthia allows her children to walk all over her bothers me to a great extent. Her lack of restrictions, I believe, falls on the blame-like tone she takes when she feels that a privilege “had been stolen from her” (53). Proving herself selfish, she further grew irritating in my eyes. That, coupled with her weak sense of self, leads to me dislike Cynthia very much as I believe a mother should not only have the ability and desire to raise her children selflessly but remain a strong and firm role model for her children. Her drastic change from a carfree spirit to shadow barely able to control her kids proves that she does not have what it takes for the cut-throat world of moms. Next applicant, please.