For the past four years in my work, I have used episodes of the TV show Suburgatory in my therapy groups with kids. It centers around the life of a 15-year-old girl named Tessa, who gets moved from New York City to a suburb by a father thinking it is going to protect her. It ran for three seasons on ABC and in other countries.
At Thanksgiving Tessa is lamenting the loss of her New York City tradition. However, Lisa, her neighbor and friend appears to have it worse. Lisa is dreading a number of holiday family traditions which include wearing a dress that makes her look like a Puritan Pilgrim.
One third of the episode is devoted to Lisa's struggle with her mother, Shelia. Lisa takes Tessa's suggestion to tell Shelia that Lisa is not wearing the dress. Lisa's brother Ryan then refuses to wear his vest that complements the dress. Shelia takes her anger out on her husband Fred. "Are you happy now? It's anarchy!"
Shelia sends Lisa to her room, and then turns up the thermostat to be persuasive. Lisa goes over the top to prove her point (You will have to see it for yourself) and disrupts Thanksgiving Dinner.
Subgatory is a comedy, but it anything like it happens at your house, people will likely do anything but laugh. When over the top stuff happens at your holiday, chances are you cringe.
Shelia
Many mothers, matriarchs, and queen bees act like Shelia. They are so determined to preserve traditions that they are willing to dominate and decimate to get people to conform at the cost of the relationship. Shelia makes you want to hate her because she does not care what other people feel. It is her way or she will punish you or destroy you.
Lisa
Like Lisa, many people feel that some traditions are humiliating or embarrassing and uncomfortable. They want the holidays to be fun and not beholden to some old tradition that has no comfort or security to it. They are willing to fight for change even if others suffer from the collateral damage.
Tessa
A side plot of this episode is Tessa missing what used to be. Like Tessa, some of us grieve the loss of traditions sometimes. There were times when people got together. Those were good times. They had meaning. We don't have them now.
Us.
Sometimes watching something we relate to can be helpful as we survive. We may need to laugh.
If you are interested in finding the show Suburgatory online, It is Thanksgiving, Season #1. There are a number of online video sources that claim to offer this show. I cannot guarantee how safe they are. I make the usual disclaimer that I have no financial stake in your watching this show or buying a copy of it.
I hope that you were helped by this, and if you liked it, feel free to repost and pass it on.
At Thanksgiving Tessa is lamenting the loss of her New York City tradition. However, Lisa, her neighbor and friend appears to have it worse. Lisa is dreading a number of holiday family traditions which include wearing a dress that makes her look like a Puritan Pilgrim.
One third of the episode is devoted to Lisa's struggle with her mother, Shelia. Lisa takes Tessa's suggestion to tell Shelia that Lisa is not wearing the dress. Lisa's brother Ryan then refuses to wear his vest that complements the dress. Shelia takes her anger out on her husband Fred. "Are you happy now? It's anarchy!"
Shelia sends Lisa to her room, and then turns up the thermostat to be persuasive. Lisa goes over the top to prove her point (You will have to see it for yourself) and disrupts Thanksgiving Dinner.
Subgatory is a comedy, but it anything like it happens at your house, people will likely do anything but laugh. When over the top stuff happens at your holiday, chances are you cringe.
Shelia
Many mothers, matriarchs, and queen bees act like Shelia. They are so determined to preserve traditions that they are willing to dominate and decimate to get people to conform at the cost of the relationship. Shelia makes you want to hate her because she does not care what other people feel. It is her way or she will punish you or destroy you.
Lisa
Like Lisa, many people feel that some traditions are humiliating or embarrassing and uncomfortable. They want the holidays to be fun and not beholden to some old tradition that has no comfort or security to it. They are willing to fight for change even if others suffer from the collateral damage.
Tessa
A side plot of this episode is Tessa missing what used to be. Like Tessa, some of us grieve the loss of traditions sometimes. There were times when people got together. Those were good times. They had meaning. We don't have them now.
Us.
Sometimes watching something we relate to can be helpful as we survive. We may need to laugh.
If you are interested in finding the show Suburgatory online, It is Thanksgiving, Season #1. There are a number of online video sources that claim to offer this show. I cannot guarantee how safe they are. I make the usual disclaimer that I have no financial stake in your watching this show or buying a copy of it.
I hope that you were helped by this, and if you liked it, feel free to repost and pass it on.
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