I'd like to think that movies are a glorified and idealistic version of lifes' conflicts, that's why they are so relateable. Doesn't hurt to see a little Channing Tatum from time to time too! Lol!
Now that I'm a mother, the movies I used to love watching when I was still single, means a whole lot more now. So, I watched all 5 of them all over again to pick out a few single momma lessons and traits that we all can relate with.
1. Erin Brokovich -
The ultimate portrayal of a super mom. She might be vulgar and tough but hey! You need to be these things in order to make it in a world where people think that a woman's place is always in the kitchen.
Tenacity. Integrity. Determination. - a whole lot of them. the qualities she displayed so that she can win that case, help out the affected and make it through life. A journey of survival for a single mom with 3 kids. A woman can do it all, and she does it in daisy dukes and heels/cowboy boots to boot!
2. Spanglish -
A perfect story of a single mother who would concquer even the most challenging language barrier to keep her kid happy. She's beautiful, men fall over her, and she could've taken the easier path - marry a rich man to solve her problems but then again, integrity tells her that nothing will ever be a better example to her daughter than hardwork and good intentions.
3. Riding in Cars with Boys -
Giving in too peer pressure has some serious consequences, one of them is becoming a single parent at a young age. She might have married a good for nothing drunk for a short time, but she ended up being a single mother eventually. But then again, who am I to judge?
S*it happens. You make a wrong move. Commit error of judgment at a young age, deal with the consequences and overcome the difficulties. This movie shows that being a ambitious isn't a bad thing too - having a child, raising him on your own can be a driving force to make you achieve your goals!
4. Stepmom -
My perspective on Susan Sarandon's character - going through a divorce, raising two children, facing your husbands' new girlfriend/wife to be and battling cancer, woah!, only a resilient woman can face these. Trying to appear strong on the outside while holding yourself together on the inside is a challenge. Not to mention, handing your kids over to someone else while trying to determine how much longer you will live is the ultimate test of a womans' strength and love for her kids.
Julia's character - being an instant mother of two, inheriting an instant family package must be unnerving but this goes to show that a woman can handle anything that's put on their plate. But in the end, we rally, we end up being friends with the same person we thought we can never get along with.
5. The Single Mom's Club -
Mind you, not all single mommas are after a man to complete their lives. Because sometimes, you meet a jerk who doesn't know how to be a good husband and a father, but, some guy "may" come along and accept you as you are - the whole package.
There are reasons behind why a woman becomes a single parent and we can't judge them based on the decisions they make in their lives.
But ultimately, the take away from this movie is that there are a good number of us out there, there are support groups, there are mommas who can help us and got our backs when things become too much to bear.
They say, a woman's mind is a bottomless pit of mysteries, but no! I say, a womans' mind has an unlimited amount of resources, a multitude amount of tricks that only us can pull out to put things together. I believe, this is the reason we can take on whatever life deals us.
These movies used to mean entertainment for me, a must remember for when I become a mother, but now that I am - they mean so much more.
These are my top 5 single momma movies, what's yours?
Riding in car with boys and Step mom are two of my most favorite movies. The first one speaks to me regarding my relationship with my dad. I'm not a single mom but I can relate to the passionate, rebellious, idealistic and emotional character of Drew Barrymore in the movie and James Woods' character is a lot like my dad, too. :) Step mom has some of the most touching scenes and dialogues. <3
ReplyDeleteme too mommy may! riding in cars was a bittersweet portrayal of how our wrong decisions sometimes takes us to the right places.
DeleteI've watched #1, 4 and 5. I love Stepmom too. I will search for the other two movies. :)
ReplyDeletemommy michi, riding in cars with boys is a movie of drew barrymore and the late britanny murphy...it's a good movie, especially for moms like us.
DeleteA mother's love coupled with the fact that females in general are more resilient enable us to face the unhappiest things in our lives with a strong heart.
ReplyDeletegirl power! :-)
DeleteLove Riding in Cars with Boys!
ReplyDeleteIt is a good movie indeed. drew barrymore was perfect for the role too! :-)
DeleteThanks for sharing these movies. Have definitely kept them in mind. I really admire single mothers who have fighting spirit :)
ReplyDeleteI watched them even before i became a mom, they've very good movies with inspirational lessons :-)
DeleteWaaahhh.. I must be living under a rock. I haven't watched any of these movies! Time to download.
ReplyDeletePeachy, watch it sis!!! you will love all of them :-)
DeleteThe only movie I haven't seen from this list is The Single Moms' Club. I LOVE Stepmom! I can watch it over and over again and not grow tired of it. It just really resonates with me as a child who grew up in a broken home and also as a mom now in a blended family. But I also love Riding in Cars with Boys and Erin Brokovich because Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts are two of my favorite actresses. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, the single moms club kinda disappointed me because it kinda shows that we need men in our life to complete us but other than that, it was a feel good movie. Stepmom, i cried buckets! :-)
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