I’m in awe!  I really don’t know how else to sum up my feelings after reading, “I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy.  My first thoughts go to the old saying, “You never know what goes on behind closed doors.”  While I have learned this to be true as I have gotten older, this memoir smacks you in the face with the raw truth of this saying.

Raising children creates many different situations as a parent that you never thought about when you first brought your sweet little baby home.  One of the biggest lessons that I worked hard to instill in our children was to always appreciate what they have and to not be envious when others have more.   Mostly  because envy isn’t good…but also because while things may look perfect from the outside, you never really know what families are dealing with on the inside.

Summary of I’m Glad My Mom Died ~

Jennette was a child star living her mother’s dream.  While most of us would think she was living a fairy tale life, Jennette explains that becoming an actress at the delicate age of 6 was never her wish.  The turmoil that unwinds over the years of her childhood were anything but happy, however, she was still too young to even realize this!

*This review discusses the topics related to “I’m Glad My Mom Died” without giving away all of the details.  I want you to read the book and come back and discuss it with me!

Breaking It Down ~

How very sad!  From the very beginning I found it was easy to see how her mom had unrealized dreams and was living vicariously through her daughter.  Interestingly enough, my daughter was initially seeing only how much her mom loved her and wanted to help her be successful.  (I want to point out here that my daughter is in her 20’s and a very mature young lady).   I’m looking forward to our bookclub this week as I believe her opinion has changed drastically as she delved deeper into the book.

As parents, shouldn’t we realize that when raising children they are young versions of ourselves just trying to make us happy?  Our job here is to help them realize THEIR dreams!  Even as young adults they strive to be the good kid!  I am realizing this more and more in my Aging years.  I, too, EVEN IN MY 50’s have spent my life trying to make my parents proud.  Don’t get me wrong here, I am a very fulfilled wife and mother, but it just still gives you a little jolt of happiness when you know your parents are happy with something you have done.

Also, a child should never be placed in the position of siding with a parent, forced to feel they should not grow up, pushed to live anyone’s dreams but their own or asked to support their family.  This is in a perfect world though right?  Unfortunately, these things happen more often than we care to admit….and it all happened to Jennette

So what does one do when they actually realize this has happened to them?  Can they realize it at a young age or do they live through years of suffering, not really realizing they are suffering?   How does one even begin to realize what their dreams are after they have lived their childhood for someone else?

Is Being Famous Really Worth It ~

Most people dream for their children to be successful…but who determines what “succesful” is?  At some point in raising children do we all not wish for them to be a pro-athlete, a movie star, a famous singer or something that seems successful in the general publics’ mind?  Is THIS what success means?  How do we help all parents to see that there are SO MANY types of success.

They don’t have to be skinny, smart, pretty/handsome or funny to be successful!  They just have to be productive and happy!  Can I hear an Amen?  Jennette McCurdy demonstrates over and over how being successful in her mother’s eye really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  She was NOT happy…according to her she was NOT living the dream!

The McCurdy Family ~

There are many members in Jennette’s family that play an integral part of her family.  Did they too suffer?  Did they ever choose to stand up for what they had to see was wrong.  Or were they so entrenched in their own hells to worry about helping the other family members?

I’m Glad My Mom died does indeed shed the light on the fact that being a child actor is not necessarily the American dream.  In fact, many children, regardless of being famous or not have not lived a “magical” childhood.  So just how does this affect the child as an adult….read the book to find out!

Book Club Discussion Questions ~

1. Do you feel Jennette’s mom, Debra, was a narcissist?
2. There were many red flags of abuse throughout the book, which one stood out the most to you?
3. What were your feelings about her first therapist?  Do you believe she was helpful or a hindrance to her healing?
4. Do you feel Jennette made a good decision regarding the hust Money offered to her?
5. Is it ok, in your opinion, to feel “happy” that someone has died?
6. Are there any child actors that you are aware of that have not gone through horrible childhood situations?
7. Were you surprised to learn of Jennette’s “personal hell” that she experienced as a child?
8. Do you think you would be able to tell if someone close to you was experiencing some type of abuse?
9. Would you let your child/children become a child actress/actor?
10. Why do you believe other people working on the set didn’t speak up regarding those in charge?
11. What are your feelings about her grandparents and their relationship with Jennette and the rest of the family?
12. With what many refer to as “the broken system” of fostering children, do you believe she would have been better off as a foster child vs. being raised by her mother?
13. What are your feeings about her father and his “lack of speaking up?”
14. The ending has a bit of a “plot twist.”  Did you see this coming?

I hope you will read through these questions and comment below on ones that resonated with you or that you feel you would like to discuss further.  While this was indeed a sad book, I feel it was very courages of Jennette to put it out into the universe!

*Disclosure: The link below is an affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

If you don’t have the book yet, here is a handy link to get your copy

P.S.  Are you an avid reader or do you have an avid reader in your family.  Check out my post on making your own photo bookmarks.  Make them for yourself or use them as a great gift idea!

Zany DIY Photo Bookmarks to make for yourself or give as a personal gift!

Happy Reading!

Mimi

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