I Don't Know How She Does It

On Monday I was hard at work when I received a text from my sweet wife.  She suggested lunch and a movie.  I can't pass those opportunities up, so I agreed.  I had never heard of the movie she wanted to see, but it didn't matter, I just like hanging out with her. Then I watched the trailer:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSi3LdUrq18

I immediately began to fear that 90 minutes, I mean this really looked like a serious chick flick.

Afterwards though, I was amazed at the interesting social critique that I had just witnessed.  I am of the age where many films from my youth were about dads and kids (think Hook and the like).  These films all had a common theme: Dad was a workaholic and sacrificed his family for a ride up the corporate ladder.  However, in each film something happens where Dad changes course and becomes a family man to save his marriage and family.

I Don't Know How She Does It was the complete opposite. This time it is Mom who is rising the corporate ladder and sacrificing her family and marriage.

It struck me that this is new.  The film doesn't bash on working moms, quite the contrary.  But, it does ask the pointed question to these moms, "what's most important?" I find it fascinating that the Dad is now seen as the steady, supportive, rational, and faithful spouse.  The Mom is the self-centered, irrational, and nearly un-faithful spouse. The roles have been reversed.

I think that we need to be aware of what is going on here.  Pop culture is crying out for Moms.  As much teasing as June Cleaver has taken since the feminist revolution, there is a hunger for what only a mother can provide.  Men took the heat and from what I can tell, in my peer group, are engaging with their families.  Pop culture is now looking at the Mom and asking, "where are you?"

I suppose when it comes down to it we must realize this one thing: We need both.  Moms and Dads. We need them working as teams juggling the complexities of life together.  We need the pendulum to find its equilibrium on this one.