There’s a funny show on ABC called American Housewife. In case you haven’t seen it, the show follows a family, the Ottos, that is not well to do that moves to a very affluent town in Connecticut. While they are struggling with their family life in very real ways, they also have to deal with the social differences between them and their community.
You may think that I enjoy the show because of my life as an American housewife, but that isn’t remotely close. Honestly, it’s just a funny show. However, my favorite character is one of the rich friends of our protagonist. Doris is a wife and mother in a family that is indeed quite rich, but she isn’t the typical housewife. She doesn’t go to yoga or drink at the juice bar. She doesn’t like to volunteer and be the class mom. Doris is a down to earth, tough as nails, intimidating mother. And I adore her. In a handful of episodes we see Doris take disciplinary action with the Otto’s children. She forces the kids to eat a nasty soup before they are allowed to leave the table. She forces them to clean their dishes immediately. And Doris even pinches Oliver Otto, her least favorite child. Doris is my absolute favorite character on the show because she has expectations. And she doesn’t just express her expectations over her own children, but over her friends’ children. Most people would write her off as some overbearing, rude woman. Honestly, I respect her. Parenting is hard. For me, keeping silent is harder. I want to parent other people’s children all the time! Kid is being a brat in a waiting room? I want to get him to behave. Kid is defying the odds and getting past their parents’ faults? I want to reward them with ice cream. When I see a kid back talk their parent, there is nothing I want more than to give that kid a what for! But let’s face it. I can’t. I’m not allowed to parent other kids, no matter how much they need it. And yet… I hear all the time that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Personally, I’ve always thought that to be hokum. I was not raised by many. I knew if I didn’t act right, my father would handle it. End of story. I wasn’t worried about some neighborhood mom calling mine. Just like I don’t expect to rely on my neighbors to tell me when my kids are acting up. I expect my children to not act like idiots. Plain and simple. So which is it? Do we use the village mentality? If so, we have some conversations coming. Or are we butting out about how your child is a monster? If that’s the case, stop blaming the village. I wish I could Doris all these children into being amazing, high achieving, butt kicking kids. Until then, I will just have to keep my kids as the ultimate example.
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AuthorI have a lot to say about a lot of things. Archives
May 2023
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