This week on Parenthood…
Sarah makes a friend at work that helps her to impress her daughter, while Julia and Joel discuss expanding their family.
Obviously there’s more…Adam struggles with the fact that he has no relationship with Max. Haddie is running for Student Council and Kristina is the one who is campaigning. Haddie becomes irritated with her mother’s obsession of her decision to run for President. Check out the campaign poster I created for Haddie to the left! Nice eh!I saw a few online and wanted to make one myself.
Anyway, as Daddy watched these scenes between mother and daughter he keeps saying, “That’s you and Pinky right there!”All I could do was laugh because in a way I could see that happening. I was ASB President back in my day, so I would be so proud and overly excited if my little girl followed in my footsteps. Heck, I know I’ll be proud in whatever activities she decides to partake in…hopefully dance and martial arts for Mommy and Daddy’s selfish reasons. I think at some point parents lice vicariously through their children whether they mean to or not.
Anyway, time for What I learned on Parenthood this week!
- Always respect the wishes of your significant other, especially when it comes to personal matters. Julia blurts out to Adam that she and Joel are trying to have another baby, when in fact it was never confirmed. Adam congratulates Joel and Joel goes haywire. Julia should have kept her mouth shut, or at least told Adam not to say anything to Joel. The latter, probably pushing it a little. The point is, be true to your man/woman and respect the union you created. Communicate well and keep your secrets where they belong, between the two of you.
- Give your children space, let them know you’re there for them, but also give them an opportunity to ask for your help. Sometimes they just need to prove that they can handle their own. Like in the case of Haddie and Kristina. Haddie knew her mother had written speeches for political figures and she had tons of experience in strategies and campaigning. Haddie wanted to enjoy the experience and be normal, she also wanted a chance to take on the task herself, to be responsible for the outcome. After all, it’s only high school!
- Be honest and patient with your children; never give up on them. Adam is jealous as he walks past Sydney and Joel bonding at the coffee table coloring and talking about carpentry. He looks at Max and yearns for that type of relationship with him. Adam decides to spend more time with him. Max is more interested in his game than bonding with his father. Finally Adam pours his heart out to Max and says that he wants to learn more about him and spend more time with him. He shows hiss vulnerability by telling Max that it hurts when he doesn’t want to spend time with him. Finally, Max opens up, shows interest and begins talking to his father! I guess children have a way of doing things on their own time and we as parent’s just have to be patient and not give up.
- Leave room for compromise and be willing to face your fears. Crosby faces the grandmother of his son. She is strict on timing and will not let Jabbar stay out or up late, even with his own father. Crosby has a talk with Jabbar’s grandmother and they reach a compromise. Sometimes we have to talk to people who make us feel uncomfortable and we have to discuss things that are not easy to talk about, but when it comes to your kids, you better stand up for what is right, no matter who you’re talking to.
- I can still be a cool mom if I take my kids to an underground concert on a school night! Okay, not exactly. Sarah is jealous because Amber is spending a lot of time with her new friend and her family. Sarah comes up with a plan to take Amber and her friend to see a band, luckily one is recommended by her co-worker. They have a little trouble getting in, and just as they are about to give up and go home, Sarah’s co-worker saves them and gets them into the show. Amber is impressed! I think no matter how old our children get, we will always be jealous of their time spent with other people. Just like Sarah, I’m sure I will yearn to spend time with Pinky so much that I will devise an evil plan that forces her to hang out with me! Hopefully, she’ll always think I’m a cool mom and I won’t have to force her, rather she’ll always want to spend time with me and show me off to her pals! Hence the title, “I’m Cooler than you Think!”
This week I learned a lot about parent-child relationships. It makes me think about what kind of parent I’m going to be as Pinky ages. Will I remember what I learn? Will it even matter? Will I be one of those parents who swear up and down that they aren’t going to be like their parents but they end up being like them anyway? Phew…so much to learn. I think I’ll take it one day at a time and with a grain of salt!
Check in next week to find out What I Learned on Parenthood!