I do not believe the loss of a child is something one ever overcomes. One puts on the faces one needs, but inside one bleeds and bleeds.
-- Aurore (Journal Entry September 1808 paragraph 7)

Importance: Aurore reflects on the death of her baby brother, Louis. Louis' death drives a wedge of grief between her parents that is never reconciled since he dies an untimely death in an accident.

To me, it meant that my mother was trading me for money.
-- Aurore (Journal Entry July 1810 paragraph 1)

Importance: Aurore explains how she ends up staying with her grandmother at Nohant. Grandmama will not allow her half-sister, Caroline, to visit. In order to see her, Sophie moves to Paris. She gets a stipend to make up for her husband's lost pension, and Grandmama pays her an extra salary to leave Aurore at Nohant. He mother says she cannot afford to take care of two children on her own when Aurore begs to go with her to Paris...