When Wrong Decisions are Made

Book Review

Short Summary

For One More Day is written by Mitch Albom, the famous and notable writer of Tuesdays with Morrie and Five People You Meet in Heaven. This is a story about a man named Chick Benetto who had a chance to experience one more day with his dead mom. Because of all his problems in life, family especially with Catherine and Maria Benetto, he decided to give up on his life. He was trapped in a car accident then all of a sudden, he found himself with his mom, Posey Benetto. Posey and her son, Chick, had one day conversation and bonding about their lives as if Posey is still alive. Chick, on the other hand, recalled and reflected on all his childhood memories with his mom. This dialogue with his mom revealed all the secrets his mom had kept to Chick and her daughter, Roberta Benetto. Chick realized how bad he has become to his own mom. The story ended when Chick and Posey bid their final goodbyes. Chick was finally awake and was rescued by the policemen and medical staffs.

Guide Questions:

1. Which character in the story do you clearly identify with? In what ways are you like this character?

Being the middle child in our family, I have this feeling that my parents don’t love me. Since high school, I started to feel this so called Middle Child Syndrome. From that time on, I began to hate my mom and dad because I thought that they only gave all their attention to my two other siblings but never to me. It even made me keep rage to my own siblings because for me, they are trying to get mom and dad away from me. In that scenario, it is the main character’s role, Chick Benetto, that I most likely to see myself. I see in him the way I answered back to my parents, shouting in anger, and the way I run away when I cry because I hate them. For me, my parents made my life as miserable as it can get. My mom would do chores for my Ate at any situation and my dad would call my younger sister’s name where in fact he’s talking to me. Maybe my parents do love me but only about 10% of how much they love their two other kids.

2. What would you have done differently?

The most striking part of the story for me is when Chick Benetto finally knew about the misdeeds of his own dad and when he realized how unjust he had been to his own mom. After this moment with his dead mom, I’d like to clearly show to the readers how he has restored his relationship with his family before he died. Moreover, I want the idea that Chick and his dad would renew their relationship as well. I would illustrate the changes in the way Chick sees life and love. It could have been that Chick wouldn’t die yet and he’ll be able to live out a life his mom has told him during their conversation. And lastly, I want Chick to also experience one more day with his daughter, dad, wife or sibling in such as way that they only reminisce life back without any bad feelings and regrets at all.

3. What is the most important lesson you learned from the story? How do you apply this to your own life?

“No matter how wrong a person has done to us, that’s not of great importance. What matters is when we whole-heartedly forgive them, forget what they’ve done, love them unconditionally and seize life while it lasts.”- Marge Brazal Tuibeo.

I strongly believe that the lesson of the story doesn’t solely apply to mother-sibling relationship. My realization also applies in friendship, love and enemies. Just last Wednesday, we watched the movie version of For One More Day and I almost burst out into tears much more than when I read the book. I was able to really put myself on the shoes of Chick Benetto. Death is inevitably the end of everyone and so I will make it a point not to waste every single day I have with my loved ones. Until now, I’m trying my best to understand my parents and siblings for the way they treat me as their family member. I think it was a misinterpretation on my part that they don’t love me. I will not wait until they’re gone. This is the right time to show them how much I love them and how blessed I am to have them. In my life now, four simple yet meaningful words should be remembered: FORGIVE AND FORGET, LOVE, and LIVE!