How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
He watched Jason's face—looking more and more devastated as Thalia described their mom—and for once, Leo didn't feel jealous of his friend. Leo might have lost his mom. He might have had some hard times. But at least he remembered her. […] He felt bad for Jason, not having memories like that—not having anything to fall back on. (35.45)
Is it not having the memories that is painful here, or is it learning that his mom is a mess? Maybe it's both. Families—can't live with them, can't trade them in for a better model.
Quote #8
He could barely tolerate what she'd said about their mom. It was almost like Thalia had handed him a baby—a really loud, ugly baby—and said, Here, this is yours. Carry it. He didn't want to carry it. (37.4)
Families really are like that: you get them and then you have to carry them everywhere for the rest of your life. It's like every baby is handed a big, ugly baby when it is born.
Quote #9
She offered him the vial. "Take it. Maybe someday we'll be ready to talk about this again. When you're ready."
"When I'm ready," he murmured. "You make it sound like—like I'm the one growing up. I'm supposed to be the parent." He took the vial. His eyes glimmered with a small desperate hope. "I love you, Pipes." (46.29-30)
Tristan actually seems like a better dad when he's willing to let Piper take care of him. Remember that Zeus acts like an idiot and gets upset about his kids saving him. Being a good parent means letting your kids be the adults sometimes, maybe.