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

[Sen J]

No: HPFGUIDX 113878

> >   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. ;-)


Sen Again:

I do agree Magda that she's probably an ingrained scrimper. When you 
go that long taking care of such a large family, some habits are hard 
to break. However, some parents just will not take from their 
children no matter how well off or poor either party is. Some parents 
believe that their children's hard earned money is their own and 
they've got their own bills & expenses to deal with. Example: My 
husband and I are a young couple a few yrs into the marriage game. My 
parents are well off. We tried to take my mom & dad out for father's 
day dinner at his favorite buffet restaurant. We get there and Dad 
sneak-paid!!! DH & I looked at each other like "What just happened?" 
Mom told me "Did you really think Dad was going to let you pay? You 
know he wont take anything from you kids. He wants you to keep your 
money and pay for the things you need." 
Some parents are just like that. Not to mention, remember when Harry 
gives the twins his winnings from the TWC? He doesn't want Molly to 
find out. Besides the fact she doesn't approve of their chosen 
profession, I'm sure she has taught her kids not to accept hand outs. 
Fred & George did protest before finally accepting. IIRC, Harry 
threatened to just toss out the winnings if they didn't take it and 
that's probably what made them take it after all. Better take it and 
put it to good use rather than just let it go to waste. At least... 
all of this.. IMHO! =o)

Sen