I can’t watch Parenthood. That’s partly because I just can’t get jazzed up about spending an hour sobbing every week, but it’s also because, well, those Bravermans make me mad.
Not mad at them, really. But just a tiny bit mad at every person I’m related to, by blood or marriage or you’re-practically-family adoption. You know why? Because we never jump on a bounce house together.
Nor do we climb in trees together, dance in the kitchen together or walk in one big Braverman parade to trick or treat together.
What kind of family do I have, anyway??
I get that the extended family on the TV show Parenthood has its share of drama. But they also tend to work out their differences and challenges within 60 minutes – or at least before the season finale comes in May.
Real families aren’t really like that.
Our seasons often last longer than 23 episodes, and our challenges take more work than we could fit into one hour minus commercials. And while our version of dancing in the kitchen (a rowdy game of Yahtzee for us) may happen, it also doesn’t erase the tense shoulders, gritted teeth, escaped tears and harsh words that sometimes come with being related to people.
That’s not to say my family doesn’t love each other (we DO), and none of this means we’re any more dysfunctional than the average family not living in my television (we aren’t…most the time). We plan Easter egg hunts, we buy new puzzles for our Christmas/New Year’s brunch, we sit in hospital rooms together, we send birthday texts and Facebook messages, and we go to each other’s ball games and concerts every chance we get.
But it’s not quite as tied-up-in-a-bow as those families we see on TV or in the movies. Unless you count the Griswolds. Perhaps there’s a little bit of resemblance there…
I can’t watch Parenthood because it stirs up dissatisfaction with my own family – and all based on a fictional account of a fairy tale family dynamic that, honestly, I wouldn’t want even if it were real. So instead, I choose to be thankful for what I have. Because what I have is good, and what I have is real.
P.S. I challenged myself to write this post in less than 10 minutes, so obviously this is the 40,000-foot view of my complex family (whom I love very much).
What TV or movie family does your family resemble most?
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I would argue that we shouldn’t hold up the Bravermans to any sort of ideal- they are crazy codependent. And that’s why I don’t watch the show anymore. I just wanted to bring them all in for counseling!
But I totally get your point. I swear I do. :)
Oh, Leigh, way to go all counselor on us! ;) You’re right, though. They aren’t really an ideal at all. But the dream of a family always working things out and doing life together (and being so pretty in the perfect lighting and all) is easy to get caught up in, I think.
My husband caught me watching the latest episode of Parenthood and asked how I could even watch it b/c they all just talk over each other. I know that will grate on my nerves now, as most of the female characters do b/c of their codependency. The show started off more quirky family and now, like you pointed out, each episode seems to make you need tissues and is all serious and drama and deep.
To answer your question- I’ve always thought my family most resembles Roseanne. They stick together and care about each other, but still keep it real with the fighting, sibling rivalry, back stabbing, meddling, and aren’t overly touchy or sentimental.
This is exactly why I can’t watch the show. The interrupting and talking at the same time is so overdone to the point that it doesn’t feel “real,” it’s just sensory overload and loud and stressful. My family is obnoxiously loud and interrupty; it isn’t something to glorify and it’s something that makes me ridiculously anxious in real life. I definitely don’t want to see it on TV.
There’s a lot to be said for keeping it real! And it sounds like I’m not missing anything by not watching Parenthood these days. My post was written based on the first couple of seasons, and it sounds like they’ve amped up their quirks a little too much. Glad I quit watching!
I love the Bravermans. lol I want to know that I can be that awful and people will still make room for me at the table. (Granted, I’m catching up on Amazon..)
I can’t watch “Everybody Loves Raymond,” or didn’t, when it was on. The manipulation! The deceit! The rudeness. GOOD HEAVENS.
I never enjoyed Everybody Loves Raymond, either – but I love your reason for liking the Bravermans!