Parenthood is a series on NBC with an ensemble cast featuring Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia, Peter Krause and Lauren Graham. The actors do a beautiful job portraying the Braverman family. The elder Bravermans are survivors from the 60's who raised their children in Berkeley, and their grown kids have gone on to become a shoe company executive, a hard-driving corporate lawyer, a sound man, and a bartender who has moved back home with her parents along with her two teenagers after a disastrous relationship in Fresno.
The show is available in OnDemand, and I recommend watching it from the beginning to fully enjoy the multiple developing storylines. What I love about this program is the honesty and genuineness, the complex relationships between the characters, told with humor and heart. There are no pat answers among these passionate people. Things aren't perfect. Life has rough edges and failures, and problems that don't neatly solve themselves in 40 minutes of script. The writing is sharp and the characters are strong, and like in real life the Bravermans have to accept contradictions and small compensations, the moments of beauty and togetherness that redeem everything else. Eight year old Max is in a meltdown panic attack because his pet turtle is lost, until they find him in his grandpa's shoe. Grandpa Braverman is crashing at his eldest son's house, because his wife has kicked him out over his dishonesty and infidelity. Nothing is simple. The hardass elder Braverman says to his son Peter, "You are ten times the father I ever was." His son looks him in the eye, level and calm, with just the right amount of bitterness and forgiveness and says, "No dad, that's not true. Probably five times." They grip each other's shoulders, just shy of a full embrace.
Things aren't neatly wrapped up. There are no pat solutions or quick fixes, and the hurt doesn't just go away. It's poignant and powerful stuff. You have to see it.
All our families are a mix of beauty and clumsy selfishness. We all have our hurts, our regrets, our secret fears. Ideally it's the moments of healing we remember, the celebratory dinners and the times we collapse together in laughter, the stirring memories and pagentry of The Backyard Olympics, the time we traveled 500 miles overnight to be there when we were needed. It doesn't balance things. We just hope it is enough to heal the heart and touch the soul.
Dad--
ReplyDeleteSo baby updates, we went into labor on Tuesday night right after spending the entire morning trying to get Tom out of Afghanistan on emergency leave. Luckily the contractions, although seriously painful, weren't progressing labor so they were able to give me some medication to slow/stop the contractions. We aren't sure how long the happy yellow pill will last but the good news is we were successful in our bid and he is on his way home. He should be here roughly tomorrow afternoon. Right now we have 15 days but if we're lucky we can get an additional 10 days added on for paternity leave. We're keeping our fingers crossed. I have another doctor's appointment on Monday to check Lizzy's status so hopefully now that Daddy is home she'll still feel like coming out. Things at the house are progressing nicely for her arrival thanks to an amazing friend who hasn't left my side and totally helped me out with the kids and anything else that we needed around here. Anyway I'm still sitting on the couch (I think it might have a permanent implant by now) to avoid upsetting the baby but hopefully this weekend I'll actually get out a little bit because since he's home she can come whenever she wants. I'll keep you posted.
Me
Steff--
ReplyDeleteAck! This baby will clearly be as lovably impatient and stubborn as you. It's clear the little princess wants to make a dramatic entrance.
That's incredibly wonderful news that the Army is letting Tom come home for the birth. I had no idea they would do that until you started writing about the possibility. Way different from the old days.
I am glad you are resting and have a good friend to help you. Ethan must be charging down the halls and bubbling with excitement that his baby sister is coming.
I remember when you were born. Your mom started having mild contractions around six, we called the mothers for advice and decided to go to the hospital around 8:30 and you made your grand entrance kicking and screaming and wailing by 9:07. You were in a hurry to start shopping. I held you all day and got in trouble for walking you down the hall. I rocked you in your Dairy Farmers of Oregon baby blanket and sang "Sweet Baby James" and "The Pony Man." I thought you were beautiful and a joy to behold. I still do, even though you have grown up terribly opininated and contenious with hideous taste in college football teams.
Take care and be healthy. Tell Lizzie I have a song to sing to her.
Love,
Dad
Dad--
ReplyDeleteFirst of all my taste in teams is totally fabulous you're just wrong (I mean seriously you should be used to it by now hahahahhaa) I can't believe that you remember what time I was born! I know but only cuz I like wishing myself happy b-day at the exact right time every year. I love my blankie, and I totally still have it. No baby yet still but she's thinking hard about it (neat for her not so much for me!). I'll let you know tomorrow after the appointment.
Me
9:07 June 1st. With Lizzie's flair for the dramatic, she just might be planning that exact moment to hatch. I can't wait to hum the Duck fight song in your honor.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Dad