  Elizabeth Engum Composition I Julie Lundblad June 26, 2004 Reaction to “The Perfect Family” In this essay, Alice Hoffman questions what a perfect family really is. She describes what was believed to be the “perfect family” in the 50’s when she was growing up. Also, she describes her single parent family that did not fit the stereotyped “perfect family”.
Alice Hoffman’s description of her mother taking the trash out to the curb on Monday nights as being the father’s job in the eyes of the neighbors really gives good insight into what the “perfect family” was thought to be when she was growing up. I think that the ideas people had back in the 50’s about the “perfect family” are not too far from what some people believe now. Many times, I think that people feel having both a mom and a dad at home is what makes a child loved and happy. People tend to forget that not every parent is a good parent. I feel that one good parent can many times be more beneficial to a “perfect family” then two parents that are fighting and not happy.
I know what it is like to live in that “glass house” and have to maintain the look of a “perfect family” to the public. I find it very refreshing to read about a family that was not “perfect” in the eyes of the society of the time, but was a happy and loved. My favorite part of the essay was when Hoffman stated, “As far as we were concerned our mother could cure a fever with a kiss. This may be the only thing we need to know about love. 
