Film: Away We Go - mocking natural parenting

[azima]

I just watched my parenting style be sent-up in a movie. I feel a bit weird about it. Anyway, it’s Away We Go at about the 40-minute mark. Has anyone else seen it?

It attacks: self-weaning, tandem-feeding, baby-wearing, co-sleeping, doulas/midwives, and ecstatic-birth. The scene ends with the main characters running out part-way through a meal calling the cousin's family "loonies" and their lifestyle "crazy bull****."

Overall it wasn't a bad movie and I can see that they think it's funny to have a 15-minute scene that ridicules alternative parenting choices. (Although I don't approve of the implicit judgment. I would never walk out on a host and yell abuse because they shared their stories with me of doctors, epidurals, formula, cots and prams.)

It was just strange to see "me" as a caricature on screen.

[helle]

I think if you're comfortable with the way you parent, then who cares? Everything gets poked fun at all the time. I'm a natural blonde and if I took offense to all the blonde jokes out there I'd be not much fun

[Boo Boo]

Just be confident in your parenting choices, if you are then what other people say shouldn't bother you. It is only one person's point of view/opinion and as you know, with parenting there is so many differences in how people parent from feeding to sleeping, to discipline to playtime.

[Just Me]

The AP website has a review of it that you might find interesting. Away We Go With Parenting! I had never heard of the film before I stumbled across this article last week.

It does suck when films portray common stereotypes that are poorly researched. Even if you don't take it personally, I think it does spread a lot of misinformation and add to the stigmatism. It's frustrating seeing something that is completely untrue and misrepresentative being portrayed.

[RockinSAHD]

Haven't seen the movie but I thought the clips were pretty funny.
"I love my babies, why would I want to push them away from me?"

Lol! I think that no matter how much you agree with a philosophy (I love wearing our babies) some real people will take that philosophy to such an extreme that's it's amusing.

[azima]

The review above is great, thanks. It's right that the scene depicts a set of values I subscribe to but takes them to an extreme to make a point. And watching the clips again did make me laugh But I'm still a little uncomfortable that the film is about depicting families that the main characters reject as bad, crazy, etc.

E.g. Is sleeping in the same bed as my child really as bad as criticising his appearance within earshot? While I believe my parenting style is better for me and my child, I don't think anyone should be rude towards their children! So I still find the film confronting because it suggests it is as bad.

[Just Me]

I think the difficulty with criticising co-sleeping and other natural parenting methods in movies (or anywhere because news reports are very good at making subtle digs) is that natural parenting is already not very well understood and stigmatised as being something that only uneducated parents practice. Oddly enough, I think the opposite is true. Many parents who practice natural parenting are quite well informed and understand a great deal about what they are doing. But the unfortunate thing about portraying it like this, is that it maginalises the practices further and ignorance does take over.

I don't seek approval for my parenting, I am happy with what I do but like every parent, a little support and understanding goes a long way. As the old saying goes 'It takes a village to raise a child' and so while others may not agree with what I do, I don't want it stigmatised and stereotyped by ignorant people making it harder for me to find others who understand the various struggles that crop up with the type of parenting I practice. Does that make sense?

RockinSAHD - I understand your point too and it is important to be able to laugh at extremes. It's just a pity that extreme is how this type of parenting is often viewed in wider society.

[luna moth]

Although I don't approve of the implicit judgment. I would never walk out on a host and yell abuse because they shared their stories with me of doctors, epidurals, formula, cots and prams.

I probably wouldn't have been there in the first place!

On the flipside, my SIL punched my husband in the face because she doesn't agree with our co-sleeping, demand feeding or babywearing. Crazy that anyone can get so worked up over parenting! (I am completely guilty of doing the same thing though)

Just get out there, give love, and be awesome. We'll change their minds...

[Heaven]

rofl Audax, wtf? That might be funny in a movie. So crazy people get so worked up, like it's effecting them. Not like we're asking them to co-sleep with out kids and breastfeed them.

[Phteven]

(I am completely guilty of doing the same thing though)

Punching your husband in the face?


I laughed myself silly over the parenting/ferberising in Meet The Fockers so I guess that it's only fair that the ferberisers get to laugh at gentle parents.

[nothing2lose]

I haven't seen the film but i find it's easy to laugh at satire. Until you find yourself being asked to laugh at yourself. Then, all of a sudden, satire becomes ridicule that's "offensive". Best to take it for what it is and have a good laugh.

[RockinSAHD]

I laughed myself silly over the parenting/ferberising in Meet The Fockers so I guess that it's only fair that the ferberisers get to laugh at gentle parents.

I agree, I've seen many parenting styles sent up over the years that it's only fair. Though I can see why this style of parenting could be confronting to many who don't understand the underlying ideas.

[azima]

But satire is the use of humour to be critical. So the point of the scene is to criticise natural parenting values alongside criticising e.g. abusive parenting.

[nothing2lose]

But if something has a solid base and is worthwhile surely it can withstand criticism.

[azima]

^^Touche