--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think Laurie's Keller story 'We are…" description: "\"I think Laurie's Keller story 'We are growing', resonates because when you have that amount of independence, you're starting to ask yourself questions ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22e/mo-willems-25067_ask-yourself_i-think-laurie-s-keller-story-we-are-gro_201105.jpg" --- # I think Laurie's Keller story 'We are growing', resonates… ![“I think Laurie's Keller story 'We are growing', resonates because when you have that amount of independence, you're starting to ask yourself questions that the grownups in your life have been answering for you. Before that, you are a good kid, or you are a funny kid, because you're told that's who…” quote by Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22e/mo-willems-25067_ask-yourself_i-think-laurie-s-keller-story-we-are-gro_201105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22e/mo-willems-25067_ask-yourself_i-think-laurie-s-keller-story-we-are-gro_201105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22e/mo-willems-25067_ask-yourself_i-think-laurie-s-keller-story-we-are-gro_201105.jpg) > “I think Laurie's Keller story 'We are growing', resonates because when you have that amount of independence, you're starting to ask yourself questions that the grownups in your life have been answering for you. Before that, you are a good kid, or you are a funny kid, because you're told that's who you are. But when it's just you and the book, you have to figure out who you are.” [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When independence grows, we must confront self‑identity without relying on adult guidance, discovering our true selves. **In simple terms:** Independence forces self‑discovery. Key Takeaway Question who you are when alone. Themes identity independence self‑discovery growth coming‑of‑age Mood reflective introspective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teen years - first job - moving out - solo travel - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - How do you define yourself without external labels? - What role do mentors play in shaping identity? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of mentorship and community support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Growing Resonates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-resonates-2100368/) [Grownups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grownups/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Keller Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keller-story-2100369/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Laurie Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laurie-keller-2100372/) [Story Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-growing-2100370/) [Think Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-laurie-2100371/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-you-are/) ## Related quotes > [When you make a decision, you don't have to be locked into it. One of the ways that you grow is by starting over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/when-you-make-a-decision-you-don-t-have-to-be-locked-into-it-one-of-2/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [I also learn a lot about everybody else's process. People create in different ways, so that has opened me up to different processes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/i-also-learn-a-lot-about-everybody-else-s-process-people-create-in/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [I haven't written a novel or something that long, because I really am improvising all along and the story is growing new limbs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-haven-t-written-a-novel-or-something-that-long-because-i-really-am/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Tell the story that's been growing in your heart, the characters you can't keep out of your head, the tale story that speaks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/tell-the-story-that-s-been-growing-in-your-heart-the-characters-you/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [Children from the age of five to ten should watch more television. Television depicts adults as rotten SOB's given to fistfights, gunplay, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/children-from-the-age-of-five-to-ten-should-watch-more-television/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It's easier to be a grownup than to be a kid. When you're a kid, you lie constantly and people are always calling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rich/it-s-easier-to-be-a-grownup-than-to-be-a-kid-when-you-re-a-kid-you/) [Simon Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rich/) > [This is not a game, ... Debt has become a part of who we are. It's become that spoiled child in the grocery store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/this-is-not-a-game-debt-has-become-a-part-of-who-we-are-it-s-become/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [“Using intuition is a hard thing for grownups to do, and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/using-intuition-is-a-hard-thing-for-grownups-to-do-and/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [That's what my books are, now that I'm a grownup - mosaics of jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/that-s-what-my-books-are-now-that-i-m-a-grownup-mosaics-of-jokes/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Kaoru: Grownups are so tiresome. They fake their smiles all day long and they try to force us to do the same. It's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bisco-hatori/kaoru-grownups-are-so-tiresome-they-fake-their-smiles-all-day-long/) [Bisco Hatori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bisco-hatori/) > [Growing up I never had a perfume. I was like oh, one day when I'm grownup and have money I'm going to wear perfume.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/growing-up-i-never-had-a-perfume-i-was-like-oh-one-day-when-i-m/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [As a young girl, I used to dream of giving an interview. You dream of stardom as a kid. People think they don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sania-mirza/as-a-young-girl-i-used-to-dream-of-giving-an-interview-you-dream-of/) [Sania Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sania-mirza/) > [What is difficult about learning - any kind of learning - is that you have to give up what you know already to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-furlong/what-is-difficult-about-learning-any-kind-of-learning-is-that-you/) [Monica Furlong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-furlong/) > [A lot of times it's the child that sees something and not the grownup. I love that because, when readers get older, they start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-brett/a-lot-of-times-it-s-the-child-that-sees-something-and-not-the-grownup/) [Jan Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-brett/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) ## More by Mo Willems > [Kids are super-independent. This is the time when you don't need your parents for a story anymore. You have a great degree of agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/kids-are-super-independent-this-is-the-time-when-you-don-t-need-your/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [I've been lucky enough to have made enough of these types of children's books that while I don't necessarily know what works, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-have-made-enough-of-these-types-of-children/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [“People think, Hey, I love kids, I want to write children’s books. But they think children are happy. That’s their first mistake. \[Messinger, Jonathan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/people-think-hey-i-love-kids-i-want-to-write-children-s-books-but/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [A picture book is a motorcycle: small, loud, fun, and zippy. An easy reader is a chartered bus: obliged to carry a rather dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/a-picture-book-is-a-motorcycle-small-loud-fun-and-zippy-an-easy/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [The difference between children and adults is that they're shorter - not dumber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/the-difference-between-children-and-adults-is-that-they-re-shorter/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [Elephant and Piggie have a very large input. They have a distinct aesthetic taste. They like books that are philosophical. They like books that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/elephant-and-piggie-have-a-very-large-input-they-have-a-distinct/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [An artist is waiting for the audience to understand the work. A craftsman is working to understand the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/an-artist-is-waiting-for-the-audience-to-understand-the-work-a/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [The first bowl of chocolate pudding was too hot, but Goldilocks ate it all anyway because, hey, it's chocolate pudding, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/the-first-bowl-of-chocolate-pudding-was-too-hot-but-goldilocks-ate-it/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [I bet your mom would let me." -Pigeon, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/i-bet-your-mom-would-let-me-pigeon-don-t-let-the-pigeon-drive-the-bus/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [The common thread of the series is that these are the books that Elephant and Piggie like to read. Elephant and Piggie are retired,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/the-common-thread-of-the-series-is-that-these-are-the-books-that/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [When you make a decision, you don't have to be locked into it. One of the ways that you grow is by starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/when-you-make-a-decision-you-don-t-have-to-be-locked-into-it-one-of/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [I also learn a lot about everybody else's process. People create in different ways, so that has opened me up to different processes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/i-also-learn-a-lot-about-everybody-else-s-process-people-create-in/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [“And the moral for Dinosaurs is: Lock the Back Door!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/and-the-moral-for-dinosaurs-is-lock-the-back-door/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [Aggle flabble kabble . . . snurp?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/aggle-flabble-kabble-snurp/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [A book, being a physical object, engenders a certain respect that zipping electrons cannot. Because you cannot turn a book off, because you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/a-book-being-a-physical-object-engenders-a-certain-respect-that/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) [Explore all 23 Mo Willems quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) ## More Ask yourself quotes > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/) [Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/) > [When you experience difficulty at work or in your life, instead of looking back on it as something that was really challenging, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/when-you-experience-difficulty-at-work-or-in-your-life-instead-of/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [“ask yourself how many people you have met who grumbled at a thing as incurable, and how many who attacked it as curable? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/ask-yourself-how-many-people-you-have-met-who-grumbled-at-a-thing-as/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“I have seen plenty of ‘Struggle minus Success’ stories where you are forced to ask yourself ‘Why to him/her?’. There are few questions unanswered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/i-have-seen-plenty-of-struggle-minus-success-stories-where-you-are/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [“What is true for you? What makes your heart smile? When do you feel most yourself? What do you love to do? Ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/what-is-true-for-you-what-makes-your-heart-smile-when-do-you-feel/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [“When a bad experience shakes your faith in humanity, hold those depressing thoughts and ask yourself. 1. How many things in life have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-a-bad-experience-shakes-your-faith-in-humanity-hold-those/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Picture your life exactly the way you want it and then ask yourself, am I doing the things that will take me there? Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-cook/picture-your-life-exactly-the-way-you-want-it-and-then-ask-yourself/) [Stephanie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-cook/) > [“Just make sure you've taken a moment or two to ask yourself if it's really a need, and to reflect on the potential benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-laricchia/just-make-sure-you-ve-taken-a-moment-or-two-to-ask-yourself-if-it-s/) [Pam Laricchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-laricchia/) > [“Em's the first woman I've met who seems to be...well, the answer.' 'Answer to what?' He shrugged. 'All the questions, I suppose.' Fay looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/em-s-the-first-woman-i-ve-met-who-seems-to-be-well-the-answer-answer/) [Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/) > [“Listen to what you tell yourself about your life situation. If you find it's pessimistic or negative, ask yourself, "What's another way of thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-a-robinson/listen-to-what-you-tell-yourself-about-your-life-situation-if-you/) [Lynn A. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-a-robinson/) > [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) [Browse all 1,272 Ask yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think Laurie's Keller story 'We are growing', resonates because when you have that amount of independence, you're starting to ask yourself questions that the grownups in your life have been answering for you. 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