Why buy Ron Maroon? (Was: Why buy 5 sets of Lockhart's book?

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 113846

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Magda Grantwich 
<mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
>   Sen:
> > IMO, Molly & Arthur do without (unless it's a diehard 
> > necessity) so they can make sure their kids have what they need.
> > With that many children at home, I'm sure Molly has gotten used 
to 
> > doing for her kids first & foremost (Snip> 

------
> Except that by the beginning of GOF, there are only four kids to 
buy for.  (snip) If anything, splurging a little so that Ron can 
have a set of dress robes should have been possible.
> 
> I think it's more likely that Molly is just an ingrained scrimper 
by this point.  Buying second-hand and making do has become her
> automatic response to the need for "new" items.
> 
> Why she didn't ask Bill or Charley to buy the robes for their kid
> brother suprises me.  (snip)
> Magda


Tonks now:

I agree with Sen, the Weasley parents dress poorly because they put 
themselves last. I disagree with Magda. They have 4 children in a 
private school. That is not cheap!! And they had to buy all of those 
books because Lockhart is such an egotist. Of course there is no 
money for a fancy robe that he is only going to wear one time. He is 
a boy. It will be dark. They are not a bright color.. he will blend 
it. Give Molly a break!! He is just being a teenager. No parent can 
please their teenager. (and no I have never had children, but I 
know.)

And in Molly's mind, it is not Bill or Charley's place to help their 
parents. She would see it as her place to care for her children. Now 
it would have been nice if Bill and Charley would send money home 
from time to time. Maybe they have tired to, and it would be an 
insult to their father, so Molly won't let them. If Molly was a 
widow, yes her older sons would help. They would be the "men" of the 
family in Arthur's absence. But Arthur is there. Can you imagine the 
feeling of shame that would put on him? They are doing the best they 
can. And Molly was upset like many parents are when they do their 
best, wishing they could do better, and their child rubs it in their 
face that it is not good enough. Ron will get over it. In a 100 
years it won't matter. ;-)

Tonks_op