A chronicle of the ups, downs, and in-betweens of my thirty-something life. Seeing life through many different eyes...parenthood, step-parenthood, marriage, approaching middle-age (argh...can't this one wait), all while attempting to find my significance in this world.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Expectations versus Reality

Parenthood
Photo Courtesy of NBC.com
There haven't been many shows in the past several years that cause me such excitement and anticipation as the newest addition on NBC. I can hardly wait for the next week's episode to be aired. The new Parenthood show just clicks with me. It's a show about a family threaded with individuals that make up the sometimes crazy, intolerable, vulnerable and funny family. Each individual has their own struggles and triumphs. Blended together it shows the reality of each person's decisions affecting the entire family unit.

I love how they portray the messy parts of life. Most shows try to fulfill this imaginary unrealistic safety zone that allows people to escape their reality. Some people (not me of course) even grew up thinking and expecting life to be like the sitcoms. Boy was I Boy were they wrong. When we are taught to expect perfection from life or that having our desires fulfilled, life has another lesson to teach. Reality is messy and sometimes scary, sometimes horrible and sometimes awesome. To expect anything less is not real. This show touches on that in a way I have not seen before.

What I like about this show is that it is real, bearing wounds and all. The reality is refreshingly relatable. They touch on real life issues like the first diagnosis of a child with Asberger's Syndrome and all of the obstacles that go with it. The entire family is affected by a teenagers decision to remain abstinent or not. Each of the characters have a story behind them and you can understand why they are the way they are. Kind of like real life.

It is rare for a series to portray characters that are complex and have a history. My favorite character is commitment-phobe Crosby, who finds out he has a son 5 years after the fact. He becomes an instant Dad and goes from chronically single man living on a boat docked in the harbor to Daddy in a matter of days. His attitude about life is hilarious!

If you haven't already checked this show out, I highly recommend it. It's on Tuesday nights at 10pm Pacific Standard Time. For more information visit NBC's website. You can watch all the back episodes and catch up!

8 comments:

  1. I love that show too!:o)Thanks for stopping by

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  2. I love this show too! If I miss it, I go back and watch it online. I don't do that with, well, any other show on tv. I don't even really watch anything else (except Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters) I must really like those shows about relationships.

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  3. Have not seen it. Is it on hulu? Also, new follower!

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  4. I haven't seen it either. Sounds interesting.
    Mary

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  5. I’m following you now on Friendly Follow Friday! Please follow me back on my blog “Inspire!”

    My latest inspirational postings are, “Pure Love,” “Peace of Mind,” and “Simple Gesture.”

    http://inspiredbyron.blogspot.com/

    Ron

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  6. I was wondering about this show, I may have to add it to my list of must-sees!

    I'm stopping by to welcome you to SITS!

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  7. I too watch this show!


    I'm also pretty new to this Friendly Friday thing and Now I hold the title of your newest follower :)

    http://kateyjakcsy.blogspot.com/

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  8. I just started getting into it. I am going to have to watch the past episodes on On Demand to catch up. Thanks for stopping by my blog...and following. I am your newest follower! :)

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