Parenting Humans

Hmmm. This series proves you can be bingeable and horrible at the same time. I mean, yes, there are points where you don’t want to stop watching but at the end, you regret not turning it off.

So it’s loosely based on real life, which always makes things a little more interesting. LaPalma is a real island in the Canary Islands off Spain that has extremely active volcanos. A recent volcanic eruption there lasted 85 days, caused a lava flow over 2 miles wide and 4 miles long, and ultimately did almost a billion dollars of damage to the island. So yeah, things can get REAL on La Palma. So what did this series have to offer, given this dramatic background? Yeah, not much. The series follows a family with some typical emotional baggage (a daughter struggling with coming out, a married couple that’s lost their spark, step family issues and mental health challenges – all wrapped up in one 4 person family). And the family is more focused on their issues than true life and death scenarios of an active volcano and deadly tsunami. It’s ridiculous. For example, there’s one more plane off the island, to avoid certain death mind you, and the family inexplicably ends up giving up their spot to look for a girl they just met. I mean, why look for her if you’re all going to die anyway? This type of nonsensical behavior continues and it just frustrates any reasonable viewer. In fact, I am full on willing to guarantee you will be frustrated if you watch the entire thing. You end up rooting for someone to die because they are all making such ridiculous choices. I’m guessing it’s supposed to show that love conquers all but you’re way too frustrated to appreciate that type of message by the time this ends. Also, it’s all caused by climate change so there is a heavy handed in your face message laid on you as well. The visuals of the tsunami are cool but it ends there.

My son started playing soccer at age 10. He is now 11 and is convinced he will be a soccer star on the MLS team of his choosing. In just one year of playing, he thinks he’s enough to be a star. He has ADHD and a very strong imagination. I have to say, I myself am guilty of some outlandish ideas. Thoughts that I’ll do something that really, I’m not practiced enough or otherwise prepared to do. Perhaps this is connected to the ADHDer’s tendency to fantasize a lot. We tune out reality and get lost in a world of our own design. It’s a treat at times – when I’m bored at a red light while driving or when I get up before my alarm but don’t want to get out of bed yet. Those fantasies keep me occupied. But sometimes, the failure of a fantasy to materialize in real living color can be painful and leave a scar. There are entire careers I thought I’d have and now, in middle age, I realize they will never be. Seeing someone take those paths can be a painful reminder of what was sought after but never achieved. As I fear will happen to my son when he realizes his 3 hours of practicing a week starting at age 10 will not result in him becoming a star. (No, he doesn’t have natural ability.) The key is not to get lost in it. Those grandiose dreams may not appear as I so strongly believed they would as a child, but there are always other avenues to take in life. I heard the KFC guy didn’t start until middle age and Louse Hay was also over 49 when she hit major popularity. Today, I’m motivated to try and find that new thing. If anything, so I can show my son, there’s more than just your grand fantasies.

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