Reader’s Reflections: When I was in grade school, I had a friend who was quite spoiled. Her parents would buy the newest toys and the most expensive clothes for her. She didn’t have to clean her room and she was allowed to have sleepovers whenever she wanted. I was green with envy. I always had more than I needed, if not all that I wanted; my parents always made sure I got my homework done and there were pretty clear rules. Years later, my friend told me that she secretly tried to follow all the rules that my mom set for me. I’ll never forget that. I meet so many people in my adult life who seem to have come from families with extremely difficult dynamics. Many of them are dead set on raising their children in the exact opposite way from the way their parents raised them. I appreciate my own parents more and more every year, and when my kids tell me, “You’re turning into grandma!,” I take it as a wonderful compliment! Elizabeth looks at her parents and sees how her father was blinded by her mother’s beauty, how he thought she was sweet-tempered just because she was young, and how dearly he’s had to pay for that mistake for the rest of his life. Seems like Elizabeth’s made it her life’s work to marry with her eyes wide open, and for the RIGHT reasons. Then there’s that awkward moment when the guy whose house you’re creeping comes home and finds you there! Yikes!