A Fix for Your Parenthood Withdrawal
This might be the first time that I have ever blogged about television. But the show Parenthood was my favorite show currently on TV until it ended this past week (and, admittedly, one of the only shows I actually watch these days). There were several times over the years that I didn’t agree with the writers of the show in how they handled situations (or the morals they conveyed), but it was probably one of the cleanest shows on network television in recent history and I absolutely loved the focus on family.
I was pretty disappointed with the series in the fall, when they only showed half the actors every week (and then the other half the following week) in what I assume was an attempt to save money. You can’t watch the Braverman’s without watching all the Braverman’s, am I right?!?! But they more than redeemed themselves the last 4 episodes of the series. The last two episodes, especially, were absolutely incredible. I think even my husband might have gotten a little teary-eyed (but don’t tell him that I told you that). :)
(spoiler alert: stop reading here if you haven’t seen the final episodes and skip down a little ways)
-Joel and Julia back together –finally!
-Amber naming her son after Zeek.
-Sarah’s wedding to Hank (is it just me or has their relationship always felt awkward? It was beautiful nonetheless).
-Joel and Julia deciding to adopt Victor’s half-sister.
-Zeek’s death.
-And the most poignant of all–the flash-forward scenes of each family cut in during the family baseball game. I sobbed during this part of the show.
It was a beautiful ending to a great series that portrayed a real family, with fights and squabbles, and issues to overcome. But with a constant thread of love that continually stitched them together.
Family is at times messy, but oh-so-beautiful.
I kind of feel like I grew up in my parenting alongside the Braverman’s. Despite all the ways that our morals might differ, I watched the show and thought, “I hope our little family is this close and loving as everyone grows up.” It also reminded me of the closeness of my family and my husband’s family. I am so thankful for the blessing of growing up with such an amazing, imperfect, beautiful, loving family.
So if you are finding yourself sad that Parenthood is over and looking for something family-based and sentimental, here are a few of my recommendations.
Watch Parenthood again and again!
It’s on Netflix and Amazon Prime, so why not? :)
Okay, okay…this recommendation might have been a bit too obvious.
Read the Redemption series by Karen Kingsbury
You will fall in love with the Baxter family in this series of books, perhaps even more than you fell in love with the Braverman’s. The first book, Redemption is intense but sets the stage for the rest of the books in the series. Here are the books in their order:
1. Redemption
2. Remember
3. Return
4. Rejoice
5. Reunion
These books are seriously amazing. The author, Karen Kingsbury, continues on with several more series that tie in the Baxter family, but none can compare to her original series. I was also amazed with how a piece of fiction could encourage me in my relationship with God, but these books most definitely did!
I also just read A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson. It was a memoir (compiled of short stories about her family), so it isn’t fiction like the Redemption series but it was a fun read!
Watch Friday Night Lights, 7th Heaven, Growing Pains, Full House, Everwood, and Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.
Friday Night Lights is a close second as far as favorite recent shows go. And I don’t really even like football all that much. It is on Netflix streaming–watch the first 3 episodes and you will be hooked!
As for the rest of my recommended list…call me the cheesiest person on the planet, but I loved watching all of these series growing up and still love the sweetness and innocence of these shows.
7th Heaven is available on Amazon Prime Instant Video and the other series are available on the DVD rental portion of Netflix (not streaming).
Watch movies about families!
You could always check out the original Parenthood movie
A few of my other favorites are Father of the Bride, Marley and Me, Steel Magnolias, and Cheaper by the Dozen , (anyone catching on to a Steve Martin theme…I just noticed it myself. Apparently I really like him). :)
Parenthood was one of my favourite shows as well. You get so involved with the characters, watching the last episode, it almost felt like I was saying goodbye to my own family. Good tv is rare these days and it’s sad a good one had to bite the dust.