Day 17 - A book you’ve read that changed your views on something

I read a lot but I can't say that any one book has really shocked me enough to change my views.  So, I am going to instead tell you about a book I read that brought something to my attention.

Twelve and a half years ago my sister had a baby boy -  I was about 19 years old.  Being an aunt at 19 was great, I was young enough to still be a kid, but old enough to do things for myself.  I didn't understand the complexities of a parents love, I knew I loved my parents - or at least what I thought love was.

I enjoyed reading to the baby, and one of the books my sister had in her collection was Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw.  Unbeknownst to me, I picked it up and started reading, but the book really hit me and I started crying.  Sure, laugh all you want being its a children's book (doesn't the giving tree make you shed some tears too?) but this book touches upon a mother's love for her child and really touched me. 

It was like all of a sudden, something clicked inside of me.  I am my mother's daughter, she loves me and would do anything for me.  I started viewing my parents differently - perhaps most people start doing that when they have their own children.  Then it gets you thinking about what you would do for your own parents and it is probably around the same time that I realized my parents will die at some point - and that fear started setting in.  I can't not articulate what exactly changed, but it was enough that I started appreciating my parents, tried to not take advantage of them, respect them more, and want to be like them when I had children.  I have really enjoyed the time I spent with my parents over the last few years - and I do think this book helped open my eyes to understand how much someone can love another.  I am aware that many people do not have this kind of family love - but growing up my family did, and still does. 

Now, twelve plus years later, I have read this book more than once and to each of my nieces and nephews and I've purchased this book as a gift for friends that have a baby-  hoping they will enjoy it as much as I did.