*Spoiler alert if you are in the midst of watching Schitt’s Creek and the song “Simply the Best” doesn’t ring a bell yet, stop reading and save this one for later when you’re ready to hear what Schitt’s Creek taught me about love and motherhood.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want the world to look like for my kids. Sometimes I imagine what feels like really big picture stuff like a healthy planet, reduced poverty, or less conflict. But sometimes it’s things that feel smaller like wanting them to feel supported by us as parents or wanting them to feel confident in their decisions and path in life (which is actually really big stuff when it comes down to it).
I’ve been reflecting on what family and love means and looks like
These thoughts about the future took a new angle recently as I just finished watching the finale of Schitt’s Creek. After watching the series, I’ve been reflecting on what family and friendship and love means and looks like. While it makes me reflect on the adults in my life, woven in there is what family and friendship and love might look like for my kids. They’re little now, but the pace at which they are growing makes me realize that they’ll be young adults in the blink of an eye.
Simply the Best
I’ve noticed a lot of people chattering online about the “Simply the Best” scene at Rose Apothecary. About how powerful it is to see the growing love between Patrick and David, and how important it is to have that represented on screen. I loved that scene, it made my heart flutter. But what I also saw in that scene was Moira, David’s mom. I saw her with no doubts, standing beside her son celebrating someone truly loving her son for who he is.
I like to think of myself as accepting and understanding and open minded. And that if someday one of my kids tells me they love someone, that I’ll have no qualms about who it is. But I do worry about it. About the idea that maybe their life will somehow be harder or that others won’t accept them. Or that maybe deep down inside it will change how I feel about them.
What Schitt’s Creek taught me about love surprised me. What others think isn’t what matters.
But then I saw Patrick serenade David and I watched Moira react as a fellow mom. And it struck me that what others think isn’t what matters. If my children love someone, my role as their mom is to stand there and revel in it. Not to weigh in, or put a finger on the scale, or worry about whether their life will be harder. What I can’t do is waste time worrying about them not being accepted. My job is to work to build a world where that’s not a question.
So thank you to the show creators, to the writers, and to the actors for bringing these characters to life and for showing us what our world could look like. Instead of seeing all the strife our kids might face, it showed us the possible joy. Thank you for writing the world we all want into existence. May our kids all find their Patrick and may we all be Johnny and Moira Rose when it happens.
