The School For Good Mothers Quotes
"A list of my nightmares is the map of the way out of here."
"I wanted to find one law to cover all of living, I found fear."
"It’s not like I need someone else to punish me. I fucking hate myself."
"The goal is getting Harriet back, losing is losing everything."
"She’s the only pleasure that counts. Everything might depend on whether she can touch her child."
"With her boss out of sight, she righted the photos and stroked them and apologized: Harriet as a tightly swaddled newborn; Harriet grabbing at her first-birthday cake; Harriet in heart-shaped sunglasses and a plaid romper at the beach. That face. The only thing she ever did right."
"What gave her the right to come here and undress?"
"But nothing was 100 percent safe, her doctor said."
"The social worker needs to speak to her parents."
"You apologize to Ms. Torres right now. We do not talk that way."
"You do not hit Mommy. We do not hit. You need to apologize."
"This is her demon child. Her ally. Her protector."
"The social worker keeps changing the date of the next visitation."
"The room smells of chemicals. Fake lemon verbena."
"She needs to show them that she’s wrestling with her guilt."
"She must show them that she’s wrestling with her guilt."
"She would never leave Harriet like that, not again."
"Her parents have wired her $10,000 for her legal fees."
"She doesn’t tell anyone that Harriet is in therapy."
"She had no way of asking her beloved ahma what happened."
"The visitation is supposed to begin at five."
"The social worker doesn’t apologize for the many cancellations."
"Frida is alarmed to see that Susanna and the social worker are on hugging terms."
"When Harriet appears, only twenty-three minutes remain."
"She apologizes for disrupting the evening routine."
"This isn’t Mommy’s choice. This isn’t Mommy’s fault."
"Frida continues to wait. She watches the clock."
"She slept with a window open, inviting the cold into the house of her mind."
"She forces herself to eat. An entire bagel with cream cheese."
"She has been picturing windowless rooms and underground bunkers."
"Frida steps around puddles. Jack-o’-lanterns are waterlogged."
"She stocks her fridge with organic whole milk and string cheese."
"She drinks a bottle of seltzer and reapplies her lipstick."
"She’s been polishing the crib and rocking chair."
"She’s cleaned the baseboards and windowsill."
"They’re waiting for news. They’ll come see Harriet as soon as it's allowed."
"She hears shouting. A father is escorted out in handcuffs."
"The room empties. Renee says it’s possible they’ll have to come back in the morning."
"The mothers announce themselves with a rustle of fabric."
"They demand better uniforms, more comfortable boots."
"The mothers practice like singers running through scales."
"The mothers smile and wave. After the dolls are out of sight, their faces go slack."
"But she doesn’t like me," Beth says. "What if she’s a bad seed?"
"You’re going to get all of us in trouble," Lucretia tells her.
"Your roommate is weak as fuck," Linda tells Frida.
"I don’t think she actually loves her son," Beth says.
"It’s only going to hurt for a second," Frida says. "It’s just pretend. I’m here."
"A mother is a shark," Ms. Russo says. "You’re always moving. Always learning. Always trying to better yourself."
"I am a bad mother because…" they are prompted to say in reflection.
"Why are you doing this?" "Because we have to train you," Ms. Russo answers.
"I give thanks for Emmanuelle," Frida says, "My doll. I mean, my daughter. My precious, beautiful daughter."
"You’re speaking to your child through touch," Ms. Russo says. "Communicating heart to heart."
"We do not throw things," Frida admonishes, teaching boundaries.
"I am a narcissist. I am a danger to my child," they recite, confronting their flaws.
"Thinking of themselves to the point of pathology is one reason they’re here."
"Cooking, the mothers learn, is one of the highest forms of love."
"A mother’s love can cure most common illnesses."
"False promises will damage a child’s ability to trust."
"A mother who is in harmony with her child, who understands her place in her child’s life and her role in society, is never lonely."
"I am a bad mother because she’s letting Harriet see her cry."
"But is it in Harriet’s best interest to be parented by you?"
"Everything you need should already be inside you."
"I am a bad mother, but I am learning to be good."
"Most of the Black and Latino fathers are too young, most of the white fathers too creepy."
"Even chatting over blue food, she's surprised to find that she feels safe with him."
"I didn't know her very well. I want to feel sadder. It's hard to feel anything here."
"Tucker cheerfully answers her questions about the father's school: no cleaning crew, yes brain scans, counseling once a month."
"Tucker has made friends. 'From all walks of life,' he says."
"If she'd been able to speak to Harriet every Sunday, how different this year apart would be."
"I miss reading the news. Remember how much time we used to spend doing that?"
"I can't wait to get my hair cut. I miss having bangs."
"At least he's not violent. At least he's not a drinker."
"The mothers compare notes at dinner: which fathers are creepy, which are fuckable, which are spoken for, which seem gay."
"Roxanne has given Tucker the code name 'Beanstalk.'"
"To be desired again feels like a trick of the mind."
"I miss you so much. My heart actually aches."
"I notice you saying you're angry with me. Can you tell me more about that? I'm here. I'm listening."
"Harriet, I miss you. I miss you so much. I love you, baby."
"I am a narcissist. I am a danger to my child."