Elvis and his parents

[presley31]

I don't know alot about this topic so from you fans l would like to learn more about them and how elvis life was with them??

[ricardo b. prospero]

I believe you need one good book to read about the life of Elvis to learn more about the parents and son relationship of the Presley family. One thing is for sure Elvis love his mom very much and their relationship was an inspiration to all Elvis fans.

[cameron]

Elvis and Gladys is a good book of Elvis' relationship with not only his mom, but his dad as well......I enjoyed it. :)

[Diane]

I agree with Cameron, Elvis & Gladys is the best book I've read that talks a lot about Elvis' relationship with his parents. Maybe some of us have read it recently and can Jen parts of it.

Diane

[malc07]

Yes Elvis and Gladys is a very good book.i couldnt put it down once i opened it.
its full of interesting facts.I agree with cameron.
good place to start jen.

[presley31]

Thaks everyone..will keep my eyes open for that book.

I have read alittle about her in revelations from the Memphis mafia, but they put gladys as a tough woman who used to beat on vernon and have arguments with elvis all the time. I really don't know what to believe when it comes from that book, cause the other books show gladys was a sweet loving woman..

[Burning_Love]

I know what you mean Jen, but i believe she did start to drink a lot at the end of her life, due to fans and the stress of missing Elvis. And i can see Vernon being very controlling too, and Gladys was a tough woman and i think she stuck up for herself. I think though she was a lovely woman and it's unfair she never got to see her son reach the top.
But that's just my opinion, i want to read that book now everyone !!

:hug:

[Stryx]

I know what you mean Jen, but i believe she did start to drink a lot at the end of her life, due to fans and the stress of missing Elvis. And i can see Vernon being very controlling too, and Gladys was a tough woman and i think she stuck up for herself. I think though she was a lovely woman and it's unfair she never got to see her son reach the top.
But that's just my opinion, i want to read that book now everyone !!

:hug:

Gladys seemed to struggle with Elvis's success.

[Elvis_Lady_1984]

she did struggle..she got depressed always worrying about elvis. ever since elvis was a boy she had a close eye on him, making sure he was taken care of.. him going away from her was probably really hard...then on top of all that the stress of stardom for elvis.

[MissyM]

I think you have to look furthur and see how Gladys was raised to understand how she was with Elvis and Vernon. She had two bothers that were hell raisers. And she had a hard life growing up. So she was tuff, but there was also a gentle, loving side to her. She was also generous like Elvis. (And had a fun and funny side) Like Elvis, she liked to laugh. I think that's were Elvis got his sense of humor. The world of fame was so foreign to her. And having a very religious upbringing also caused her to worry (and rightfully so) about how Elvis would be effected by it. In many ways I think that is why he couldn't handle money and gave so much away. She sure didn't want the material things in life. Poorness effects people differently. Vernon liked the things money could by, it was not so with Gladys. Just to have a nice home, food on the table, a new dress now and then and a decent car was all she ever needed. And yes she did drink to much. The drinking amplified the fussing between she and Vernon. But you see, this kind of fussing and fighting was common in this family. So I don't think Elvis thought much of it at all. She and Vernon would have never ever divorced. IMO.
It's kind of hard to explain how the family dynamics worked, you might fuss fight and even smack each other, but divorce was rare. (unless there was a lot of infedelity or major abuse) These days people have such a different out look on marriage.
There is one thing I can say, aside from her drinking to much, no one has had anything but good things to say about her in the family. She was strong when she had to be and gentle when she had to be. But she was genuine.

[presley31]

I didn't think gladys was a bad person, little different than todays parents but she did great with elvis. The MM make her out to be kind but a very hard woman. I don't think l would do the things she did, but the parenting back than was different.

[KPM]

Gladys seemed to struggle with Elvis's success.
I think it scared her. She worried he would be taken advantage of and that he would be hurt. She also worried about how she would be viewed and she might embarrass Elvis. Understandable.

[Diane]

I read the same thing in Elvis and Gladys and I do believe that those worries were very real to Gladys and yes understandable.

It was said she fought against being called poor white trash and it hurt her. That was understandable too, she never deserved that. I respect her for in spite of all the poverty and tragedy in her life growing up that when you see her in video clips, that little lady carried herself very well. Elvis could never have had any reason to be ashamed of her but still she was afraid he would.

Diane