How L.M. Montgomery’s Classic Anne of Green Gables Helped One Mother Chill Out and Rethink Parenting
For generations, readers have found themselves enchanted by the spirited, red-headed orphan of Prince Edward Island. Long before she became a fixture of literary and television adaptations, Anne Shirley—always insistent on the "e"—was shaping the inner lives of young readers across the globe. Among them was Jamie C. Martin, a self-described starry-eyed dreamer who spent her childhood hours under the literary influence of L.M. Montgomery’s timeless creation.
Reflecting on her early years, Martin notes that the classic series did far more than provide mere entertainment. It planted foundational seeds that would later blossom into a full harvest in her adult life, inspiring a love for books, a passion for writing, a personal journey toward adoption, and an enduring appreciation for imagination.
"I owe a lot to her," Martin writes, recalling how she eagerly consumed the entire Anne of Green Gables series multiple times as a teenager and young adult, alongside any other works by Montgomery she could acquire.
Years later, as a newly married woman, Martin experienced another profound literary shift when she turned to the five volumes of L.M. Montgomery’s published journals. Unlike the whimsical fiction that defined her childhood, these grown-up entries revealed a complex tapestry of real-life joy mixed with deep sorrow, and happiness existing side-by-side with heartbreak. It was a revelation that challenged her initial perception of the beloved author and her fictional counterpart, proving that the world of Green Gables held deeper, more mature lessons for the future.
Finding a Fresh Perspective Through Parenting
When revisiting classic literature, literary critics often suggest approaching the text with a specific personal question in mind. Years later, as a mother of three navigating the daily realities of homeschooling and family life, Martin decided to re-read Anne of Green Gables through a distinct lens: What could she learn about parenting from the pages of this beloved classic?
The answer she discovered was both surprising and liberating, offering a philosophy she has attempted to implement ever since: loosen up and let maturity do its work.
In the early chapters of the novel, a young Anne is a magnet for constant mischief. Whether she is accidentally getting her best friend Diana Barry drunk with raspberry cordial, falling off the ridgepole of a roof, dying her hair an unfortunate shade of green, or spinning elaborate imaginative tales that frequently get her into trouble, Anne’s childhood is defined by impulsive errors in judgment.
Furthermore, Anne possesses a fierce and fiery temper. This volatility is demonstrated in full force when she shatters her school slate over the head of her classmate, Gilbert Blythe, after he teases her about her red hair. Even when Gilbert attempts a peace offering by sliding a pink candy heart inscribed with "You are sweet" under her arm, Anne responds with uncompromising indignation, dropping the candy to the floor and grinding it to powder beneath her heel without even deigning to look at him.
Yet, amidst the chaos and strong-willed defiance, there was genius quietly developing beneath the surface. Anne possessed a vibrant imagination, sharp intelligence, creativity, and a resilient character that simply required time to find proper expression.
The Softening of Marilla Cuthbert
The transformation of Anne’s guardians plays a crucial role in the narrative arc. Marilla Cuthbert, initially depicted as a tense, stern, and pragmatic woman who takes in the orphan alongside her gentle brother Matthew, slowly softens despite Anne’s continuous misbehavior.
Following the incident with the broken slate, Marilla demonstrates a newfound flexibility. Yielding to the advice of the neighborhood busybody, Mrs. Rachel Lynde, Marilla decides not to force the issue of school attendance. Instead, she allows Anne to stay home, effectively homeschooling her while she learns her lessons, performs her chores, and plays with her kindred spirit, Diana, in the chilly purple autumn twilights.
Matthew Cuthbert, recognizing the child’s sensitive and affectionate nature from the very beginning, offers a quiet reassurance to Marilla that ultimately guides their parenting approach: "Only be as good and kind to her as you can without spoiling her. I kind of think she’s one of the sort you can do anything with if you only get her to love you."
At the right season, Anne’s fiery spirit and erratic impulses blossomed into academic brilliance and emotional maturity.
Trusting the Natural Clock of Childhood
Reflecting on Anne’s gradual maturation process, Martin connects the fictional narrative to contemporary ideas about child development, drawing from Unschooling Rules: 55 Ways to Unlearn What We Know About School and Rediscover Education.
As the text notes, maturation is a powerful force. Irrational teenagers inevitably transition into rational adults, and the natural cycles of calmness and focus eventually return. Childhood is inherently filled with alternating periods of equilibrium and disequilibrium, and children’s bodies and minds operate on their own internal clocks that may not always align with rigid external structures or societal expectations.
For parents, particularly those engaged in homeschooling, the daily pressures of academic progress and behavioral correction can sometimes foster unnecessary tension and sternness. Martin’s reflection on Green Gables serves as an invitation to reconsider those pressures. By trusting the natural developmental process, parents can potentially relax, find humor in the inevitable mischief of youth, and truly enjoy the journey of raising children.
As Montgomery’s text and the lived experience of raising a family suggest, a little appreciation and patience can sometimes accomplish just as much good as all the conscientious upbringing in the world.
