I'm okay. Really I am. Just remind me not to try having a meaningful conversation with my teenage daughter ever again. It's too frightening.
My best friend took her daughter and another girl to see Juno. My friend told me that the 2 girls were puzzled that the stepmom didn't just raise the teen's baby (please note: this option wasn't even discussed in the movie), along with her own 5-year-old (Juno's half-sister). I said I was sure that Anna didn't see it that way. Anna walked into the room just then, so I said, "Anna - did you think Juno's stepmom should have offered to raise the baby?"
Anna immediately said, "Oh, yes!" And then, seeing my own shocked look and my friend dying of laughter behind me, she added, "I mean, [and right here she did this weird little forward-and-back hair flip thing that teen girls do] if I had a baby, you would raise it."
Obviously, there are a few things I need to make clear to her. But not today. I'm too shaken up.
So, I take it back. Don't take your daughters to see Juno. Now that I am trying to view the movie through my daughter's eyes, I realize she thought the whole thing was pretty cool and dramatic. Teenage girls love nothing better than being in the center of all that drama. And they have no concept of all the pain involved, both emotional and physical.
My best friend didn't stop laughing for almost half an hour, by the way. Every few minutes she would stop to take a breath and say, "Here, Mom! You're not doing anything! You raise it!" and then she'd start laughing again. And I think she was laughing at me, not with me.
My teenage daughter prayed so hard for a baby sister (she was the sole sister of four brothers for 13 years). When our surprise pregnancy came along, she took the ride with us. She went to all the ultrasounds and even the delivery. For the past 2 yrs she has been a second, and sometimes first, mother to her baby sister.
ReplyDeleteBest birth control we could have ever come up with. She witnessed the swelling of my ankles along with my tummy, the excruciating pain of labor/delivery, and she has changed way more stinky diapers than she ever wanted to.
I've made it clear that this is not an option. I'm loud that way.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen "Bella"? I haven't seen "Juno" so I can't compare them, but I thought "Bella" really made you think about life's choices. It was a beautiful movie.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day, and God bless.
I'm so glad I have boys.
ReplyDeleteI think they should make it more realistic. As in, too realistic for teens to think it's cool. Good grief, the ideas kids get into their heads.
ReplyDeletekaren - the movie was very realistic. It's teenage girls' thought processes that aren't realistic.
ReplyDeletemrs. g. - I'm getting louder.
toni - Anna was almost 12 when Susie was born. It doesn't seem to have made an impression on her, though. Or it may just be because her brain evaporated on her 13th birthday and was replaced with one that doesn't work as well.
Oh, dear God, I have chills. So basically, you're saying I should just go see Cloverfield or Saw III or something.
ReplyDeleteThat's hilarious. And frightening. Teenagers just have no idea.
ReplyDeleteSorry Grundir missed your meme. He'll try to get to it in a week or two, now that the hobbits are under control.
Oh my, another reason I have huge reservations about this movie...I mean it looks funny and insightful and all, but there is just a crazy disconnect between teenage girls and the reality of pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteoh my. My oldest is 3 and you just scared the crap out of me. Now that I think about it "Juno" did make pregnancy super fun. You get the guy you love in the end, you get to hang out with Jason Bateman, you find a cool mom to raise your child. Hmmmm.... Still a fab movie.
ReplyDeleteoh my. My oldest is 3 and you just scared the crap out of me. Now that I think about it "Juno" did make pregnancy super fun. You get the guy you love in the end, you get to hang out with Jason Bateman, you find a cool mom to raise your child. Hmmmm.... Still a fab movie.
ReplyDelete"No marriage until you're thirty, no sex while I'm alive." Too harsh?
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I've had those talks with my girls. Don't break my heart and get pregnant, don't make me parent any more children.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them claim they never want to have kids so I hope they'll keep thinking that until they're about 30.
I'm going to get in Anna's corner for a moment, just a small moment, to comment on her insight. Not one of the reviews I've read even asked why the possibility of Juno's parents' raising the wasn't discussed.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Anna has a future as a movie critic.
And now back into your corner - raise my daughter's baby??? As if.
I have been thinking about this all day. (I read this post earlier) I think I like your friend btw..."Here, Mom! You're not doing anything! You raise it!" that killed me and yet that whole conversation with Anna scared me.
ReplyDeleteKid's just don't have a very firm grip on reality...so idealistic. Frightens me right into wanting to slip a little birth control pill right into their morning cereal.
My sister's niece had a baby 16 (conceived at 15!). I think everyone on my side of the family has pulled my nieces aside to discuss WHY. THIS. IS. NOT. A. GOOD. IDEA.
ReplyDeleteIt's terrifying to be at a birthday party discussing parenting a 2-year-old, with an 18-year-old.
hokgardner - I thought it was because the movie wanted to make it clear that the baby was
ReplyDeleteJuno's responsibility. At least, that's what I took away from it.
Apparently, the movie didn't make the same impression on Anna.
madmad - Essentially, yes.
fannie mae - You may want to step it back a bit, yes. You don't want them killing you so they can have sex.
I have to see this movie, now. Anna's got me intrigued!
ReplyDeleteHeidi
YIKES!!!
ReplyDeleteWell WHAT else are you doing really?
ReplyDeleteAfter I read this post I was kind of having this hysterical laugh... Like I wanted to laugh but was way to scared to let it out. My daughter is 10 and I could so see her saying that in 4 years. (four short, short years).
ReplyDeleteWow. I guess entitlement extends beyond material possessions, huh?
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's only 2 and I'm already filled with dread.
Uh yah, after I stopped laughing I realized I really need to have a talk with my step-son. Maybe put a bowl of condoms in his room. Because UH UH ... NO FREAKIN' WAY. You make it, you raise it.
ReplyDeleteI just saw the movie. I see that I am in the clear minority, but I can't fathom the thought of giving my grandchild away, no matter how good adoptive mother is.
ReplyDelete