The Tree in The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is one of my favorite books of all time; it always has been.  When I first read the book, I was more interested in the relationship between the tree and the boy, and how the tree was there for the boy.  Now that I am a parent myself, I relate more to the tree than the overall relationship represented between the boy and the tree.  I, like the tree, would given anything to my son if it meant it would make him happy.  I would give until I was down to just a stump myself it meant his happiness and success.  I would easily give all my apples and branches if it meant I would see his smile.