In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco

Polacco, Patricia. In Our Mothers’ House. New York: Philomel Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-399-25076-7

SUMMARY

Join the fun at Marmee and Meema ‘s home where love fills every corner and warms the hearts of all who enter. There is never a dull moment with them and their three children. Cooking, singing, dancing, building tree houses – the fun never ends, and the love just grows deeper as the family creates warm and happy memories that will last a lifetime, and beyond. But be warned: There are neighbors who cannot understand that love should not be subjected to restrictions and rules. Can their fears spread to others, or will Marmee and Meema be able to keep peace in the neighborhood?

ANALYSIS

In Our Mother’s House by Patricia Polacco makes a bold statement about the reality of family life in our world today. Daring to break the mold of the stereotype home consisting of the traditional mother and father figurehead who live with their own biological children, Polacco tells the truth about “other” families – the families we don’t talk about in school because they aren’t traditional families.

The parents in this story are both women – a lesbian couple who open their home to three children from other countries. Meema, a pediatrician, and Marmee, a paramedic, provide a balance in the home for their children. Each mother has her own strengths. Meema loves to cook and sew. Marmee, who is very organized, enjoys building and fixing things. Together, the mothers and their children create harmony in the love-filled home.

The story reads like a narrative memoir told in first person by the eldest child. As the narrator tells the readers about the wonderful times growing up with Marmee and Meema, the colorful illustrations that enhance the narrative show extremely happy people. They are always smiling, and in the larger group scenes, someone’s arms are sure to be open wide as if to emphasize the point that all are welcome in their home and neighborhood.

The neighborhood consists of a multicultural group of people who all appreciate each other without judgment. There is one exception, though. A neighbor who does not like her children to be too close to the couple lets her opinion be known on a day where the neighborhood hosts a block party. She pulls her children from the party telling the couple, “I don’t appreciate what you two are.” Marmee and Meema’s children are confused, but Meema tells them, “She is full of fear…She’s afraid of what she cannot understand: she doesn’t understand us.”

In Our Mothers’ House provides a story for children who are growing up in homes with parents who are gay or lesbian couples. Sometimes, it seems a little too perfect, though. The only conflict comes from an outside source, the neighbor who openly disapproves of the couple’s lifestyle. However, as the book concludes, it is clear that the narrator’s purpose is to remember his mothers and to let the world know how much they loved each other, their children, their neighbors and life, and how they taught their children to love without prejudice or fear.

AWARDS/REVIEWS

Library Media Connection, starred October 2009

“…the story serves as a model of inclusiveness for children who have same-sex parents, s well as for children who may have questions about a “different” family in their neighborhood. A lovely book that can help youngsters better understand their world.” – Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, 2009

“…a strong and memorable story of a peaceful, devoted family unit.” Dennis J. LeLopu, Media Specialist, Library Media Connection, October 2009

CONNECTIONS
Patricia Polacco explains why she felt the need to write this story in an interview that she features in her website. Every teacher needs to see this video. Her message about a teacher's influence over children is very powerful.

http://www.patriciapolacco.com/

This book would be a good book to open discussions in a high school setting, where the students' maturity levels can better understand the message of diversity and acceptance. If a teacher wants to read this in an elementary setting, parental permission should be sought in order to appease the administration and parents. It would be a good book to read during Black History Month because it shows how far we have come in having multicultural neighborhoods and families, but also shows we still have a ways to go before we can truly call ourselves an inclusive society.

PERSONAL RESPONSE

I was not sure what to expect when I read this book. As I read it, though, I realized the importance such books have in our schools and libraries. As a middle school teacher, I see less and less “traditional” families. There are more students living with stepparents than ever before, and I am sure that parents like Meema and Marmee are more common than we realize. I think the love message, though was overdone in the book. It reminds me of the fictitious family stories when I was growing up: The perfect family where Father is in charge of providing for the family, Mother is in charge of taking care of the home, and the children are always tidy and clean. I understand why Patricia Polacco did this, but she should have been toned it down just a little to make it a more credible story. I was never quite sure what her purpose was in writing her story because it felt more like a “sales pitch” for accepting alternative lifestyles. After seeing her interview, though, I understood her passion behind the story rose from her compassion for the young student who was chastised by a parent volunteer. I wonder why the teacher did not speak up! I look forward to the day when we don't have to "sell" things and stories can just be stories once again.

In Our Mothers’ House. Cover illustration. Internet on-line.  Retrieved November 10, 2013 from http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=ebe7e91e39d0302a0506ca49da053314