Parenthood

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He left because she cheated and lied.

He was pulling away way before that.

Their problems became visible with the issue of their son's class placement and being held back. That's when you saw they really weren't able to talk things out. They started getting frustrated with each other and were not communicating well.

And as PP mentioned, the issue of Julia quitting and the flip in their roles seems to be frustrating both of them.

Despite all of that, I don't understand why suddenly Joel isn't trying to work things out.

I like Amber and Drew.

Kristina is annoying sometimes but completely believable as a mother. I am not surprised by how defensive she is given how consumed her daily life probably is by Max's issues.

[Anonymous]

Kristina is believable except for running for mayor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He left because she cheated and lied.

He was pulling away way before that.

Their problems became visible with the issue of their son's class placement and being held back. That's when you saw they really weren't able to talk things out. They started getting frustrated with each other and were not communicating well.

And as PP mentioned, the issue of Julia quitting and the flip in their roles seems to be frustrating both of them.

Despite all of that, I don't understand why suddenly Joel isn't trying to work things out.

I like Amber and Drew.

Kristina is annoying sometimes but completely believable as a mother. I am not surprised by how defensive she is given how consumed her daily life probably is by Max's issues.

Holding back the son was a ridiculous story line, too. He had some issues with reading and the school's immediate response was just to move him back? No testing to see if he has a learning disability, no suggestion of tutoring, just move him back end of story. As a teacher, I thought that was completely ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I am excited to see why Joel isn't interested in resolving things.

Maybe he needed Julia's money and now that she doesn't have it, forget it? Or maybe there's some sort of nice motive here? (I don't know... he has some sort of terrible sickness and in a misguided move wants to help her learn to cope on her own before he dies?) Or he's been sleeping with Pete and doesn't want to give her and STD?

As you can tell I really like this show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Julia cheated on Joel. She had an emotional affair and kissed a man. He is trying to get his head wrapped around it. Of course, they had problems in their marriage and Joel is not faultless but Jullua is the one who had an affair. Maybe he's over at survivinginfedelity.com.

She definitely did not kiss him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He left because she cheated and lied.

He was pulling away way before that.

Their problems became visible with the issue of their son's class placement and being held back. That's when you saw they really weren't able to talk things out. They started getting frustrated with each other and were not communicating well.

And as PP mentioned, the issue of Julia quitting and the flip in their roles seems to be frustrating both of them.

Despite all of that, I don't understand why suddenly Joel isn't trying to work things out.

I like Amber and Drew.

Kristina is annoying sometimes but completely believable as a mother. I am not surprised by how defensive she is given how consumed her daily life probably is by Max's issues.

Holding back the son was a ridiculous story line, too. He had some issues with reading and the school's immediate response was just to move him back? No testing to see if he has a learning disability, no suggestion of tutoring, just move him back end of story. As a teacher, I thought that was completely ridiculous.

Totally agree, and the show was very biased in favor of retention, it made Julia look like she was the sane one for pushing for it. I kept waiting for one of these intelligent, educated parents to actually do some research and discover that -- hey retention doesn't work.

[Anonymous]

Still feel like I don't understand why Joel has left.

Do you think they'll sell the house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still feel like I don't understand why Joel has left.

Do you think they'll sell the house?

I know several couple who split up for no real reason-just restlessness, general unhappiness, not getting along, distance between them. I mean, those are reasons, but there was no one thing you could point to. Some reconciled after a trial separation, some divorced and are happier now, at least one of my good friends completely regrets her decision, but by the time she realized she wanted to be stay married her husband had gotten fed up with her and refused to reconcile.

I think Joel was just tired of fighting, felt like he was marginalized and not appreciated (like many men do if their wives don't constantly reinforce it), and used Ed as an excuse to leave while being able to blame everything on Julia. And now he's being stubborn about it because most people hate admitting they're wrong. And he's miserable, so Pete is going to look fun and problem free (based on the previews anyway).

[Anonymous]

I watch the show every week and haven idea who Pete is...help me out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watch the show every week and haven idea who Pete is...help me out!

Pete is Joel's pretty female boss on his big new contract. She has been on quite a few episodes. Next week they have dinner together and they show Joel putting his hand on hers.

[Anonymous]

This past week's scene with max and parents in the car was so good!

[Anonymous]

I'm tiring of Kristina and Adam for no good reason but the scene in the mini van on the drive home from camp with Max was a tear-jerker. I think the show does a really good job writing with Max -- but do Aspergers parents agree that this can be life with a Max?

[Anonymous]

What did Max say one of the kids did to him? Adama replied "I'll kill him" but even after rewinding it several times, I couldn't hear what Max mumbled.

[Anonymous]

Yes it can be life with a Max. My husband can't watch the show with me.

[Anonymous]

The kid ped in his canteen