I am a huge fan of the AMC series Mad Men. I was;t always. In fact I didn't start watching it until the 3rd season. I had some catching up to do. As always with period pieces (can we say that? I mean, I know it's not Bronte or Austen, but it's historical!) I am absolutely fascinated. The clothes, the attitudes, the stereotypes, the clothes, the politics, the beliefs, and did I mention the clothes? I have read some articles about the show, the most recent one in the Style section of the New York Times on Sunday. The premise of the article seemed to be about our generation's fascination with the show. The idea being that the show was set in a time where adults had fun, which apparently is contrary to how adults are acting now. (Perhaps only white, middle and upper class readers of the New York Times?) The article states that while we are so intent on eating well, drinking moderately, and staying monogamous, we are actually missing out on all those deviant behaviors that apparently characterized the sixties. Here's the thing - I don't want to have extramarital affairs. I don't want my husband to. (Obvious I know, but I thought I should mention them.) I also don't want to eat chicken salad on Ritz crackers for dinner, and I definitely don't want to feel like I do or do not (as the case may be) "earn my keep" by being some one's pretty wife. The clothes....well, you can figure out that one. The drinking? Afternoon cocktails, while sound delicious, I am a little uncomfortable with. I don't know if I need my boys to know how to mix my cocktails. And I love my wine....I could drink a glass every night ( did I say a glass of wine? )I could drink whiskey too. Martinis? Delic. Gin and tonics? Heaven. But I am also aware that all these drinks, out of moderation, have consequences. Which is, of course, exactly what the article was griping about. Except. Except I am curious to know how many adults health from that swinging generation, suffered. And the kind of fun that I may be missing out on doesn't actually sound that fun. (Except those clothes...)
I admit I yell at my kids. (In fact while I had bronchitis the last couple of weeks, my doctor and I laughed about the fact that yelling at my children was a really bad idea and could produce damage to my vocal chords!) I struggle with feeling at times, a Bad Mother. I struggle with staying at home. And yet, I still can;t bring myself to just arbirally yell at them to get upstairs. Or watch TV. Or, better yet, as Betty Draper did, accuse my child of, when their grandparent passed away, acting like a baby about it. Thus, I may be a more troubled mother. I may overthink everything (oh, alright, I do over think everything) and I may allow my kids too much input at times. But good lord, I hope that I never make them feel 2 inches tall for having a normal emotion with regard to the death of a loved one. Or, have them measure out a perfect g & t and then stir it with their finger.
You may ask, why the heck do I care about this Mad Men topic and why is it so important to me that I chose to blog about it? Well...because my family drama is not up for discussion. And, if the New York Times of Sunday can run two articles about the new season of Mad Men in one month....then, dammit, the topic deserves some examination. (And I didn't even touch the feminist aspect of the series/era. Or lack of it.)