Building Blocks of a Family The short story "Teenage Wasteland" by Anne Tyler is a revealing story about the trials of a mother and her son. Donny is what is known as a problem child, and Daisy cannot to seem to figure out what his problem is. Through many attempts she tries to reach to him through counselors, and outside help. This story reveals a lack of communication, feelings of inadequacy, and lack of parental control.Daisy reminisces on what Donny used to look like. "He used to have blond hair -almost white- cut shorter than the other children's so that on his crown a little cowlick always stood up to catch the light" (Schwiebert 286). Times changed, and so did Donny. "As he grew older, his hair grew darker, and he wore it longer - past his collar even" (Schwiebert 286). Danny is having some problems at school. It seems that he does not concentrate, or put forth the right amount of effort. Daisy learns from Donny's principal that" Donny was noisy, lazy, and disruptive" (Schwiebert 287). Daisy explains to the principal that her and her husband, Matt, have tried what they can. "We don't let him watch TV on school nights. We don't let him talk on the phone till he's finished his homework. But he tells us that he doesn't have any homework or he did it all in study hall. How are we to know what to believe?" (Schwiebert 287) The principal gives Daisy the idea to check his assignments everyday. This wears down on Daisy and she becomes less involved in her daughter's life, and short towards her husband. "By the time her husband, Matt, came home, she'd be snappish. She would recite the day's hardships Matt would look surprised and confused, and Daisy would gradually wind down. There was no way, really, to convey how exhausting all this was." (Schwiebert 287) The lines of communication were broken. People were frustrated, and couldn't express themselves the way they should have. Especially Donny. "In December, the school called again. Thi...
