Motherhood Truths I Learned From Lorelei Gilmore

0
Photo courtesy of The WB/ Warner Brothers
Photo courtesy of The WB/ Warner Brothers

So I’m definitely a little bit late to the game, but I just discovered the TV series Gilmore Girls this past year thanks to the wonderful resource of Netflix. I am actually glad that I did not find this show until after I became a mom because I got the privilege of primarily watching it through the eyes of Lorelei Gilmore. Now, there are many many ways that Lorelei and I are very different people – and mothers. She is much more free spirited than I could ever muster up the energy to be. She is much more playful, much more laid back and has more energy then most 5 year olds. However, there is a part of Lorelei that I instinctively get and appreciate. I relate to her as a working single mother; I see so many of my own thoughts, fears and dreams as I watch her play out her role. Broader than that though, I see her journey as she has ventured through motherhood, discovering different truths along the way. So even though it’s a fictitious TV show, I think we can all learn a little something from our friend Lorelei.

  • Be your child’s biggest fan. I appreciate that Lorelei was always front and center when it came to Rory’s life. She cheered for her dreams, encouraged her to keep going, and inspired the gifts that were uniquely her’s.
  • Sometimes you have to let your children fail. Lorelei herself was not the best at this, but through the show we got to see her wrestle with this one. She had to pull herself back from trying to control all of Rory’s decisions, especially as she got older, even though she knew these decisions were not for the best.
  • Don’t give up on your OWN dreams. Lorelei, like most of us mothers, gladly made many sacrifices for the greater well-being of her child… For example, she went to Friday night dinners for TWO years just so she could send her daughter to the best high school. However, she never stopped pursuing her own dream of opening up an Inn. Now she wasn’t always sunshine and sparkles about it all the time, but she kept on going for it.
  • It takes a village… or a town. Lorelei surrounded herself with a great community of people that not only supported her but were also invested in her daughter’s life. Sooki, Luke, Miss Patty and Taylor valued the role they played as Rory grew. She even began to respect the role that her own parents, Richard and Emily, brought to Rory’s life, though she was more apprehensive about that one.
  • Sometimes you have to pull the mom card. Lorelei are Rory had much more of a friendship than what I personally think is healthy for a parent relationship at times, but then again it is fictional. Regardless though, Lorelei, when needed, would pull the mom card. She never lost sight that in the end, it was her responsibility to guide her daughter through the journey of life – at least the first part of it.
  • It’s okay to cry in front of your kids. This one is tough. We, as moms, often do not want our children to see as weak or vulnerable. Nor do we want to put the burden of our emotions on to them to support. However, I think it is important, for our children to see us as people. It is important for them to see us navigate the emotions of our lives. Sadness is one of those.
  • Treasure the small stuff. Lorelei was the queen of remembering and celebrating the small (and big) achievements and milestones in Rory’s life. Whether it be traditions or holidays or simply just something new that happened that day. We only get to live those moments once with our children and then those moments become memories. Cherish them and live them fully.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here