I Wonder...#2

I have only read the first three chapters of the memoir so far, and these chapters are still exploring Obama's childhood and the relationship he had with his father before his passing when Obama had just got out into the world on his own and was starting to become a true-blue adult. For the most part he has been living with his grandparents (and his mother when she finally moves in with them). In Chapter Three, Obama is shocked to find out that his father is in town and staying for a whole month with the family. He meets his father for the first time coming home from school one day and he has a really hard time adjusting to him being around. Who would know what to say to a father you've never met and haven't ever spoken to? From what Obama recalls, he didn't really try to form a connection with his dad, even though it was stated that he did love and care about him. There was a blowup one evening when Obama was watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas and his father threw a fit because he was watching television instead of studying, even though it was almost Christmas break and he had already done all of his homework. It really shows how much of a work-hungry person Barack Sr. is and how he wants his son to be exactly like him - a non-stop worker who is gifted and smart and always wanting to better himself. However, Obama does not want to go down this path, and that is very apparent from how he treats his father and assesses his actions and words. It sounds like this really is a coming-of-age part of Obama's life because he went from only hearing the good things about his father from the stories his family told him to make him sound noble and heroic to now being old enough to know that he does indeed have a lot of imperfections and is a hard person to get along with. As I keep reading, I find that from this experience Obama is learning how to live by his own example and from getting good guidance from his mother and grandparents - not his power-hungry father.