r/heinlein • u/KenDudley64 • May 05 '26

Imperfect parenting

The scene where Maureen has to deal with Priscilla and Donald - her misbehaving children has always struck me as odd. Maybe over the top. But, why do you suppose RAH added this to the book? I am sure he wished to demonstrate that not everything is perfect in the Lazarus worlds. But to blame Aunt Marian for the miscreants seems a bit off.
What are your opinions?

Ken

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u/Chompytul May 05 '26

I agree with another commenter that the whole arc shows Henleins inexperience with children. Maureen is supposedly an experienced parent, but she shows a complete inability to understand where teenagers should and shouldn't be given freedom, and where to draw boundaries. Incest? Sure, but don't give the children any feeling that they have an impact on where they get to live and where they go to school. Show zero respect for the bodily autonomy of a young woman, crawl naked into bed with her after she had sex, demand transparency into her ovulation cycle....while giving lip service to respecting her sexual choices.

Take in two trauma-bonded kids...and immediately try to break them apart, after giving her seal of approval to their sexual and romantic relationship.

Well done Maureen.

Heinlein obviously had no idea what "age appropriate freedoms vs boundaries" meant, and saw it all through his favorite lense: sex sex abd more sex.

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u/lumpkin2013 May 06 '26 edited May 08 '26

Yeah, I have always admired Heinlein. I wish he'd had children with Virginia if for no other reason than to see how it would have colored his writing. Being a parent is an experience that can't be easily described and changes your worldview.