What to Expect… the movie?
I saw Hunger Games for the second time tonight (SO FREAKING GOOD) and there was a trailer for a new movie called “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” – now there’s a book you didn’t think would ever be optioned by Hollywood!
It seems to be about a whole bunch of really beautiful women having babies (Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, and I think the blonde alcoholic cousin from Bridesmaids?), and their partners freaking out. One of the dads joins “the dudes’ group”, a stroller walking group full of new dads wearing Baby Bjorns (don’t get me started on this, I’ll just say it was nice to see babywearing!), led by Chris Rock and the guy who played Matthew McConaughey’s preppy friend in “How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days” (one of my favorite movies ever. And I’m not really a chick-flick girl.) — a quick iMDb search reveals that his name is Tom Lennon. But I digress. (edited to add: it just popped into my head that he was Joey’s identical hand twin on Friends!!! THAT’S where I know him from!! This hand is your hand, this hand is my hand…)
This movie will probably be dumb overall, unfortunately, but I really, REALLY liked how it seems to portray the realities of parenthood along with the tagline “There is no judging in Dudes’ Group”. The dads are free to confess the seemingly awful things their kids do, and realize that it happens to everyone. The soon-to-be dad is shown the real ups and downs of having babies and toddlers, from “My kid ate a cigarette” to… well, I’m sure they say some positive stuff too.
The point is, I’m glad they’re talking about this! Maybe it will suddenly become trendy for parents to confess their dirty secrets to one another, and new moms and dads will start to realize it’s ok to get really mad at your kid sometimes, or wonder if there is someplace you can give them back to, or want to run into traffic.
I think this is one of the biggest services I provide to my clients, actually – reassuring them that it’s normal to have all of these feelings and more. To swing from “Go the F*&% to sleep!!!” to “Awwww, look how beautiful she is when she’s sleeping” in the space of a minute. To wonder in the same moment how you ever lived without these fantastic beings in your life, to wondering why you wanted them in the first place. No judgment, no dogma. Stuff happens.
Thumbs up, Dudes, and may our “No Judgment” message be spread far and wide!
P.S. Only a few more days left to enter the Boba 3G giveaway! See the post below for details!
I hope that trend does start. Honesty is such a freeing experience for everyone!
I remember one night, crying with my crying newborn and I called my mom. I felt like I was the worst parent in the world — I had wanted this baby, dreamed about this baby and was thrilled to have this baby and all of a sudden, I was overwhelmed and miserable! My mom related a story to me about a similar experience she had as a new mother and I felt such a wave of relief!
Here’s to parents sharing honestly and supporting one another in their struggles and triumphs!!!
Wow, how timely. I was JUST wondering to myself today how it is that I feel like I hate and love my kids at the same time, and feeling really guilty about the hate part. I’ve been having a particularly hard time with not feeling respected by my kids, and not even in an extreme way, just simple stuff.
I hadn’t heard about this movie, so thanks. I’ll be curious to check it out! And with Chris Rock leading the dude’s group, I’m sure it will be entertaining enough. 😉