Leonie as a mom

 In the book Sing, Unburied, Sing, Leonie tries to fill her role as Jojo and Kayla's mom. Most of the time, her attempts to be a good mother seem to be unwanted by Jojo. At this point in her life's journey, could she ever change to the point where her motherly efforts are appreciated? Could she ever get to a point where ther efforts become regular? Leonie has always struggled with being the person everyone else wants her to be. Leonie's mother wanted her to have a knowledge of nature's remedies, and a spiritual connection to the earth. However, Leonie would not retain it and, thus, was a disappointment. When she tries to be a good mom to Kayla by giving her a natural herb remedy, Jojo immediately makes Kayla throw it up because of a bad experience he had with Leonie trying to make a remedy for him as a child. When Leonie tries to be a good mother, she opens herself up emotionally, and becomes vulnerable. Since Leonie has often been seen as a disappointment in her past, she is extra sensitive to the rejection she gets from her kids when she tries to open up. She then opens up less because of a fear of rejection. By not being present with her kids, they learn to live under the assumption she will not be there for them, so they cannot accept when she is.