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Post by fairy3lf2 on Jul 4, 2006 0:28:06 GMT -5
It seemed to me that Mary Anne and Stacey didn't go to Sea City as mother's helpers to the Pike family, they went as nannies. Speaking of that, does anyone remember the Henry books by Beverly Cleary? It seemed like almost everytime Henry hung out with Beezus, she was watching Ramona. Was that refelctive of the time?
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Post by greer on Jul 4, 2006 1:15:02 GMT -5
Didn't both Mrs. and Mr. Cleary work, though? I recall them struggling financially so it doesn't make sense for them to stretch their budget to include a baby-sitter when there was a responsible older sister.
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Post by fairy3lf2 on Jul 4, 2006 16:43:15 GMT -5
Didn't both Mrs. and Mr. Cleary work, though? I recall them struggling financially so it doesn't make sense for them to stretch their budget to include a baby-sitter when there was a responsible older sister. Mrs. Quimby started working part time in Ramona the Brave (when she's six) and full-time the next year, which is when the financial difficulties started. I'm talking about the earliest books, which are from Henry' Huggins' point of view and Ramona is preschool age. Beezus from eight to eleven and she's almost always watching Ramona. I remember several times when her and Henry wanted to go somewhere but they had to take Ramona. I undersatnd that a lot of it was probably to show Ramona more because she was so ppoular but it still made me feel a bit sorry for Beezus.
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lilafowler
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,163
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Post by lilafowler on Jul 4, 2006 16:59:40 GMT -5
^Plus, you know Ramona always had to be involved in whatever interesting was going on, so she probably preferred following Beezus around to playing by herself at home.
I love Ramona! She is by far my favorite character in children's literature.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
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Post by macca on Jul 4, 2006 20:56:31 GMT -5
I never thought it was that strange as my younger sister and I were expected to do everything together when we were little kids. Although we were closer in age, it wasn't a "babysitting" arrangement, it was just like I was supposed to include her in my activities. We were on the same wavelength at the time, so it didn't bother me.
That's what I find so weird about the BSC and their relationship with the siblings. If Jessi is hanging out with Becca, why does that have to be "babysitting"? It's like the kids don't associate with each other unless their getting paid and it's been officially arranged through a BSC meeting.
I remember on one occasion in Chapter Two, the narrator was like, "we're really nice about offering jobs, for instance we'll often say things like 'Jessi, Becca and Squirt are your brother and sister, you can take the job'... " uh, what? If Jessi was free that evening, why would Mrs Ramsey call the BSC to arrange a babysitter? And if the job was given to someone else and Jessi was free, how would that work? She'd have to hide in her room until her mother came home?
For the record, I'm also a Ramona fan!
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lilafowler
Sitting For The Johanssens
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Post by lilafowler on Jul 4, 2006 21:36:03 GMT -5
This reminds me of Jessi and the Bad Baby-sitter, when Wendy thinks it's lame that Kristy doesn't let her accept jobs on her own. I wonder if the readers were supposed to side with the BSC on that one, because it was really unfair of them!
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 4, 2006 21:40:47 GMT -5
^ yeah, like in the morning before Wendy left for school, didn't the next door neighbors quickly ask her to babysit and Jessi angrily reprimanded Wendy for not offering the job to the rest of the club? How ridiculous.
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Post by sotypical42483 on Jul 5, 2006 13:17:58 GMT -5
Good point, macca. Its like in Kristy's Great Idea when her mom calls for babysitters even if Kristy/Sam/Charlie are available. I always thought that was weird.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 6, 2006 1:44:10 GMT -5
^ you really wonder what the older kids are doing while the babysitters hanging around.
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
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Post by jen on Jul 6, 2006 6:22:57 GMT -5
!!! Getting in on the discussion a bit late, but I LOVE the Ramona books. Man, those were awesome.
Re: the Pikes' bad parenting. I was reading SS#1, and Stacey and Mary Anne only get a two hour break each day! Or a one and a half hour break, depending on what day it is. What on earth were Mr and Mrs Pike doing?! What's the point of a family holiday if you're not going to spend time with your kids?
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Post by fairy3lf2 on Jul 9, 2006 3:24:42 GMT -5
Would that prank call on Nan White have worked? Even without call display, you'd think she would have stopped answering after the first few calls. It may have worked for Sam doing it to the BSC because they're a business and have to answer the phone though.
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lisa
New To Stoneybrook
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Post by lisa on Jul 9, 2006 6:12:42 GMT -5
I jsut reread this and I remembered how much I always loved this one. I can't put my finger on why, but I just do
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
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Post by macca on Jul 9, 2006 22:34:43 GMT -5
Would that prank call on Nan White have worked? Even without call display, you'd think she would have stopped answering after the first few calls. It may have worked for Sam doing it to the BSC because they're a business and have to answer the phone though. Wasn't this in Poor Mallory? Either way, I agree with you. Although I guess the prank call had to be effective for plot purposes. If they hadn't pulled it off, the BSC's dibbly fresh revenge would have backfired!
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Post by fairy3lf2 on Jul 9, 2006 22:55:05 GMT -5
Oops. I always get those two books confused for some reason.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 9, 2006 23:30:53 GMT -5
^ I guess they both emphasise on Mallory's huge family and stupid breeder parents ... hehehe, now that was mean ;D
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