In "The Glass Castle," Jeannette Walls shares a powerful message about parental roles and responsibilities. In a moment of candid reflection, she emphasizes that to be treated with the respect and care typically given to mothers, one must embody the nurturing and supportive qualities associated with motherhood. This highlights the expectation of reciprocity in relationships, particularly between parents and their children.

The quote underscores the notion that love and care cannot merely be demanded; they must be demonstrated through actions. Walls' narrative often examines the complexities of her own upbringing, where traditional parental roles were challenged by her parent's behaviors, ultimately shaping her understanding of what it means to be a mother and the responsibilities that come with it.