--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Patrick explained that your father is…" description: "\"“Patrick explained that your father is absent. What about your mother, dear?\" Mother? Oh, she's in a dusty motel in California right now, cooling herse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/ruta-sepetys-2570_father_patrick-explained-that-your-father-is-ab_1978630.jpg" --- # Patrick explained that your father is absent. What about… ![“Patrick explained that your father is absent. What about your mother, dear?" Mother? Oh, she's in a dusty motel in California right now, cooling herself with a cold Schlitz in her cleavage.” quote by Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/ruta-sepetys-2570_father_patrick-explained-that-your-father-is-ab_1978630.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/ruta-sepetys-2570_father_patrick-explained-that-your-father-is-ab_1978630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/ruta-sepetys-2570_father_patrick-explained-that-your-father-is-ab_1978630.jpg) > ““Patrick explained that your father is absent. What about your mother, dear?" Mother? Oh, she's in a dusty motel in California right now, cooling herself with a cold Schlitz in her cleavage.”” [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dark, gritty dialogue reveals a child's harsh reality and coping mechanisms amid neglect and substance use. **In simple terms:** Child faces neglect and seeks escape. Key Takeaway Recognize and address hidden struggles. Themes family neglect substance use survival Mood somber empathetic Type literary social commentary When to use this quote - social services - counseling - community outreach Key Concepts trauma coping mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - What support could help this child? - How does environment shape coping? A Different Perspective Might be triggering for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absent Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absent-mother-222662/) [Dear mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear-mother/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Motel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motel/) [Motel California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motel-california-3365603/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) ## Related quotes > [“Here was what I wanted to happen when I walked through the door after my first real date and my first ever kiss. 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It's fine with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-calle/my-mother-was-a-very-absent-mother-she-was-going-out-she-was-drinking/) [Sophie Calle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-calle/) > [“Tea is the tast of my land:it is bitter and warm,strong,and sharp with memory.It tastes of longing.It tastes of the distance between where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/tea-is-the-tast-of-my-land-it-is-bitter-and-warm-strong-and-sharp/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [“Dear Mothers Everywhere! First and foremost - enjoy your children! Rediscover the world with them, as they revel in the mundane and everyday world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-kerbs/dear-mothers-everywhere-first-and-foremost-enjoy-your-children/) [Connie Kerbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-kerbs/) > [Dear mother nature, I'd like to cancel my monthly subscription.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/dear-mother-nature-i-d-like-to-cancel-my-monthly-subscription/) [Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/) > [“TO SLEEP A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by,   One after one; the sound of rain, and bees   Murmuring; the fall of rivers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/to-sleep-a-flock-of-sheep-that-leisurely-pass-by-one-after-one-the/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold, But the Ale-house is healthy and pleasant and warm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/dear-mother-dear-mother-the-church-is-cold-but-the-ale-house-is/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Even thus last night, and two nights more I lay, And could not win thee, Sleep, by any stealth: So do not let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/even-thus-last-night-and-two-nights-more-i-lay-and-could-not-win-thee/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [For tea she went down to see Misses Spink and Forcible. She had three digestive biscuits, a glass of limeade, and a cup of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/for-tea-she-went-down-to-see-misses-spink-and-forcible-she-had-three/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [~ dear mother I loved you I'm sorry I wasnt good enough dear father forgive me cuz in your eyes I just never added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/five-finger-death-punch/dear-mother-i-loved-you-i-m-sorry-i-wasnt-good-enough-dear-father/) [Five Finger Death Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/five-finger-death-punch/) > [You have doubtless heard, my dear mother, the misfortune of Madame de Chartres, whose child is born dead. But I would rather have even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoinette/you-have-doubtless-heard-my-dear-mother-the-misfortune-of-madame-de/) [Marie Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoinette/) > [SWEETEST MUM: I present to you my best write up ever about my mum. SWEETEST MUM : Oh!! my mum! What can I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/sweetest-mum-i-present-to-you-my-best-write-up-ever-about-my-mum/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [Dear Mother, I am getting on nicely in my work at the bank, and like it ... I want to find out something about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/dear-mother-i-am-getting-on-nicely-in-my-work-at-the-bank-and-like-it/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) ## More by Ruta Sepetys > [“I didn’t agree with Cokie. It wasn’t just rich folks. Mother was soul broke, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-didn-t-agree-with-cokie-it-wasn-t-just-rich-folks-mother-was-soul/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“What if this is a horrible mistake?" I croaked. "Oh, it'll be horrible fine, just a bunch of pretentious rich people with shelves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/what-if-this-is-a-horrible-mistake-i-croaked-oh-it-ll-be-horrible/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“There was no ‘Miss Woodley.’ There was Willie. Willie was about life, and she grabbed it by the balls. Y’all know that. She loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/there-was-no-miss-woodley-there-was-willie-willie-was-about-life-and/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“The fact that Cincinnati thought I resembled him in any way sickened me. It made me want to run and hide. When I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/the-fact-that-cincinnati-thought-i-resembled-him-in-any-way-sickened/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“Well, I don't know, Lina. But let's just say I've met a lot of dead people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/well-i-don-t-know-lina-but-let-s-just-say-i-ve-met-a-lot-of-dead/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“War is catastrophe. It breaks families in irretrievable pieces. But those who are gone are not necessarily lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/war-is-catastrophe-it-breaks-families-in-irretrievable-pieces-but/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [I wasn't certain of anything anymore, except that New Orleans was a faithless friend and I wanted to leave her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-wasn-t-certain-of-anything-anymore-except-that-new-orleans-was-a/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“Andrius turned. His eyes found mine. "I'll see you," he said. My face didn't wrinkle. I didn't utter a sound. But for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/andrius-turned-his-eyes-found-mine-i-ll-see-you-he-said-my-face-didn/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“Some wars are about bombing. For the people of the Baltics, this war was about believing. In 1991, after fifty years of brutal occupation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/some-wars-are-about-bombing-for-the-people-of-the-baltics-this-war/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“I don't want to see no dead body. Willie ain't in there. She put her walkin' shoes on. She gone to see the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-don-t-want-to-see-no-dead-body-willie-ain-t-in-there-she-put-her/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“They drink like fish and ask the most probing questions." "Welcome to the South." Patrick laughed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/they-drink-like-fish-and-ask-the-most-probing-questions-welcome-to/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“That’s a good hustle,” I told him. “We both got a little hustle, don’t we?” He pulled on his jacket. “But I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/that-s-a-good-hustle-i-told-him-we-both-got-a-little-hustle-don-t-we/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [Andrius, I'm...scared." He stopped and turned to me. "No. Don't be scared. Don't give them anything Lina, not even your fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/andrius-i-m-scared-he-stopped-and-turned-to-me-no-don-t-be-scared-don/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [Sometimes there is such beauty in awkwardness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/sometimes-there-is-such-beauty-in-awkwardness/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/have-you-ever-wondered-what-a-human-life-is-worth-that-morning-my/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) [Explore all 155 Ruta Sepetys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) ## More Dear mother quotes > [Dear Mother, I am getting on nicely in my work at the bank, and like it ... I want to find out something about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/dear-mother-i-am-getting-on-nicely-in-my-work-at-the-bank-and-like-it/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [SWEETEST MUM: I present to you my best write up ever about my mum. SWEETEST MUM : Oh!! my mum! What can I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/sweetest-mum-i-present-to-you-my-best-write-up-ever-about-my-mum/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [You have doubtless heard, my dear mother, the misfortune of Madame de Chartres, whose child is born dead. But I would rather have even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoinette/you-have-doubtless-heard-my-dear-mother-the-misfortune-of-madame-de/) [Marie Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoinette/) > [~ dear mother I loved you I'm sorry I wasnt good enough dear father forgive me cuz in your eyes I just never added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/five-finger-death-punch/dear-mother-i-loved-you-i-m-sorry-i-wasnt-good-enough-dear-father/) [Five Finger Death Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/five-finger-death-punch/) > [For tea she went down to see Misses Spink and Forcible. She had three digestive biscuits, a glass of limeade, and a cup of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/for-tea-she-went-down-to-see-misses-spink-and-forcible-she-had-three/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Even thus last night, and two nights more I lay, And could not win thee, Sleep, by any stealth: So do not let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/even-thus-last-night-and-two-nights-more-i-lay-and-could-not-win-thee/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold, But the Ale-house is healthy and pleasant and warm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/dear-mother-dear-mother-the-church-is-cold-but-the-ale-house-is/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“TO SLEEP A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by,   One after one; the sound of rain, and bees   Murmuring; the fall of rivers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/to-sleep-a-flock-of-sheep-that-leisurely-pass-by-one-after-one-the/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Dear mother nature, I'd like to cancel my monthly subscription.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/dear-mother-nature-i-d-like-to-cancel-my-monthly-subscription/) [Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/) > [“Dear Mothers Everywhere! First and foremost - enjoy your children! Rediscover the world with them, as they revel in the mundane and everyday world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-kerbs/dear-mothers-everywhere-first-and-foremost-enjoy-your-children/) [Connie Kerbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-kerbs/) > [“My Dear Mother, Please, Mum, read this letter and give me the chance to get to know you again. Mum, I love you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-humphreys/my-dear-mother-please-mum-read-this-letter-and-give-me-the-chance-to/) [Margaret Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-humphreys/) > [My mother said, "kiss him, darling, it's easy so natural" and I thought to myself, not with lips of stone, dear mother, not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/my-mother-said-kiss-him-darling-it-s-easy-so-natural-and-i-thought-to/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [My own dear mother was a martyr indeed, and it is not to everybody that God grants so easy a way to his great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/my-own-dear-mother-was-a-martyr-indeed-and-it-is-not-to-everybody/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“Baudelaire" When I fall asleep, and even during sleep, I hear, quite distinctly, voices speaking Whole phrases, commonplace and trivial, Having no relation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/baudelaire-when-i-fall-asleep-and-even-during-sleep-i-hear-quite/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [A word by a caring mother: I'm doing every necessary things for my children for them to enjoy life for I know my time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/a-word-by-a-caring-mother-i-m-doing-every-necessary-things-for-my/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) [Browse all 43 Dear mother quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear-mother/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Patrick explained that your father is absent. What about your mother, dear?\" Mother? 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