Mrs. Nutley has her work cut out and placed before her, doesn’t she?
Shepherd her five young’uns around this lunacy and hope they’ll discover a reason to go outside and play, while never seeing the kind of thing that haunts her darkest fear- something that might injure one of the li’l angels.
There’s Tiger Moms, Overprotective Moms, Helicopter Parents, Snowplow Parenting… but what about simple “I put a lot of time and energy into these people I love and I don’t want ’em getting smooshed out there in the big bad world” Parenting?
Or are those all variations on the same thing?
Benevolent neglect parenting. “Kids, you can go out and do whatever you want. Just remember, you have to pay your own bail, ER fees, or protection money, when that comes up. And no, I’m not increasing your allowances.”
Or my variant:
1) you drive me to the Big City
2) I provide the Cool Car(My Miata), pay for gas, & buy food
3) YOU pay any speeding tickets you earn for your preferred freeway speed
Mr. Nutely must’ve passed out again.
~edits back~
since i wrote an entire essay that would have been Far Too revealing of my inner psyche, i’m going to whittle it all down to this…
were i the missus, i would have used it as a life teaching moment. saying something like, “kids, you see that? that is something stupid people with no mother do. you have me. so you don’t need to do something i would have to tan your rears for doing. mm-kay? good. i’m glad you all understand.”
She couldn’t have foreseen the outcome, yet considers herself qualified to parent. Typical.
Mrs. Nutley didn’t see the ring of fire till they contestants started trying to go through it? Probably was watching at the top of the hill instead. Of course the kids are all excited wanting to see them attempt to go through it now, probably thinking they should do that too.