The treatment that ton received from his mother and what he received from Mr.Weems were very different. Mr.Weem protected Ton, but helped him learn to protect himself and face the world, showed him that things are not always perfect, but that Ton had to adapt and keep fighting. Ton's mother also protected him, but did not teach him to protect himself. Ton's mother was overprotective and acted as if Tom was too fragile and needed her for anything.