Monday, March 1, 2010

Wisdom Found on Sesame Street

I had a magical SAHM-y moment the other day. I was watching Sesame Street, as I do every morning, feeling all woe-is-me-nobody-understands-what-it’s-like-to-slowly-loose-myslef-to-the-vortex-of-mothering-little-ones when this segment with Paul Rudd, Abby Cadabby, Rosita, and Princess Penguin came on. (Believe me when I say I searched EVERYWHERE to find a clip of this, but my search came up with nothing). Paul Rudd played The Prince while Abby, Rosita, and Princess Penguin were The Princesses. Something would go wrong like Princess Penguin would lose roller skate, and Paul would appear with a glass slipper. Then Princess Penguin became stuck in a mailbox, and he kissed her flipper to try and rescue her. Abby and Rosita were kind annoyed because Paul just wasn’t getting it. I mean a glass slipper instead of a roller skate. I’d be miffed, too. But I really like how the Princesses all worked together to solve the problem (or as Abby refers to it at Flying Fairy School, “twinkle think”). Isn’t that sometimes how it is; women just know exactly what to do to make the situation better.

Anyway, Paul was frustrated because all his old standby tricks weren’t working. He was feeling sorry for himself and useless that he couldn’t help The Princesses. So at the end, The Princesses wanted to play football, and Paul is sad because he can’t help in the way he thinks he should help: by saving these poor damsels in distress. But they do need a fourth to play football. So they ask him to join them, he feels useful, and they all play football happily ever after. The End.

So it got me thinking; that’s how it is with most men. They want to help. They want to come to the rescue. Just because women don’t need to be rescued doesn’t mean they don’t want a man’s help. Most women want the help, but not in the form of a glass slipper. And that help looks different every day. Sometimes it looks like empting the dishwasher. Sometimes it looks like taking over with the Babes. Sometimes it looks like listening patiently while I explain how raising Babes is the most amazing yet most draining job I have ever done. Sometimes help is just being in my corner and trying to see my struggles from my point of view.

Either I am brilliant or I’ve been watching too much Sesame Street . . .

(probably too much Sesame Street)

9 comments:

Krajcimama said...

Eh - I'm betting it's your brilliance that allowed you to see beyond the surface and understand the underlying meaning behind the Paul Rudd Damsel in Distress skit.

Wonder if the writers on that one were male or female?

Agreed - though...this morning my DH rescued me by starting the coffee before he left for work. Simple yet EXACTLY what I needed!

Aunt Becky said...

Dave's always trying to fix my problems. It drives me bonkers because really, sometimes, I don't need a solution. Really, not everything can be solved.

Unknown said...

Not everything can be solved! I agree A. Becky! And sometimes all I need is a hug, a physical show of support! For godsake how hard is a hug?! But then other days I want him to stay the f-ck away, and a hug would make me want to throw my dishes through the window. Oh well, he'll have to figure it out!

moonspun said...

You know one of the things that I had to get used to being with my husband (and it was explained to me that it's a male thing) is his tendency to be the "fixer." Sometimes we joke he is too helpful, like when we are packing for a trip and he's already brought out all the luggage and I haven't finished packing it yet. And sometimes as I am venting about something, I have to stop his tendency to try and fix my problems. I have learned, though, to clarify by telling him that listening is all the fix I need right then!

~Laura said...

Sounds like that episode of Sesame was well worth your morning! I agree. If we could get our husbands to fully understand that, what a wonderful world.

Erin Janda Rawlings said...

Wow! I see that I am not alone here!! Thanks, ladies!

Kendra said...

I agree on the "men want to fix things" idea. My husband is completely that way. And it's exactly what I need when I call him and say "These day care parents haven't paid me yet, and they said it would be today, but now they say they forgot and it will definitely be tomorrow. Do I lay down the law or let it go?" He thinks, considers, and helps. But other times, when I say, "Sometimes I get so frustrated and I don't know what to do and I'm afraid I'm the worst mom ever," he practically whips out a notepad to start a plan of action, when all I wanted was to hear, "I know. It's hard. But you're doing fine."

It helps a lot to understand where your partner is coming from and that he's not being difficult, just trying to help.

And there's a lot of wisdom on Sesame Street.

Jasmine said...

Your blog was lovely... but the only comment I can muster up is to say, only, how very much I HATE Rosita on Seasame Street...

She just bugs me- the voice! ooooh the voice!

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