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[blacksinow]

<moderator> This topic has been split off from the New Year WCDT</moderator>

I am going to cover each of these people one by one, explaining why they would make horrible parents. These are merely my observations, so no offense to anyone, alright? But I'm going to touch on one problem that most seem to have, they seem more into their problems psychologically. Once they get past this, they would be fine for anything.

Dora, too insecure to be a good mom, let alone a babysitter. It seems as though she can't really ever make up her mind in regards to what she wants, outside of her own business. She also has trouble maintaining a relationship, which is essential to properly raise a child. Because a parent/child relationship IS important. So it goes far beyond simple poo for Dora.

Marigold, where do I really start with her? I know someone kind've like her. Always too obsessed with video games to carry on a conversation. She seems the type to be too concerned with beating Ultima Weapon when the subject of her child's welfare would likely come up.

Faye, she would make a good babysitter, but that is about it. We all know how kids can react to the behavior of the parent. I could see Faye's kid getting detention constantly because they did something that she herself did on a daily basis.

Martin, he can't seem to make up his mind on what he really ever wants and he really doesn't like confrontation. I'm like this as well, and I know that this would be my biggest problem. But, I feel that with somemore encouragement from his mom and dad, he could stand to be a great father.

[Carl-E]

You'd be amazed how having a kid can change you.  Usually for the better. 

It's when it doesn't change you that you need to worry. 

[blacksinow]

Honestly, I think both Angus and Steve would make better parents. Steve, with being a government agent and all, he clearly has what it takes. With Angus, he seems COMPLETELY normal.

[pwhodges]

Martin, he can't seem to make up his mind

s/Martin/Marten/

[Bluesummers]

I think Elliot would make a great parent. Too bad he'll never find true love. </3

[Is it cold in here?]

The Pugnacious Peach would have an advantage as a mother in that she had one of the most functional families of origin of any of the characters. Role models matter.

Compare to Marten's overbearing mother, or (yeetch) Hannelore's parents.

[sitnspin]

My parents were basically Hanner-parents. My role models are for shit.

[Is it cold in here?]

I never know what to say about such situations. "That sucks" seems too terse and most other things risk sounding condescending.

[Overkillengine]

From experience, a bad parent can be a positive thing.

I have a very good example of what kind of person I do not want to be thanks to my biological father.

[pwhodges]

The Pugnacious Peach would have an advantage as a mother in that she had one of the most functional families of origin of any of the characters. Role models matter.

Um, suicide, remember?  In front of her?  I think Marten's mum is a better bet than Faye's dad.

[Is it cold in here?]

After she was an adult and had left home for college. The reason it hurt so much is precisely because he had always been there for her.

[Bluesummers]

I dunno...you really don't see a "completely functional family" in QC...you know, the mom, dad, bro, sis, dog in the yard, white picket fence, all that crap.

I think one of the messages Jeph is trying to convey is that the "perfect family" is incredible rare, and shouldn't be coveted, because humans tend to find ways to adjust to whatever life throws at us.

[sitnspin]

I would say a perfectly functioning family is one in which the people love and support each other, are emotionally available and are there for each other.

It seems Faye has that more than any of the others.

[Barmymoo]

I think Faye and Angus would make good parents, together. Separately, they might find it hard, but together they'd balance each other out. Faye does have her issues, but she's addressing them - and frankly that seems like the best possible role model to me.

[Near Lurker]

I would say a perfectly functioning family is one in which the people love and support each other, are emotionally available and are there for each other.

It seems Faye has that more than any of the others.

Hmm?  I would say Dora, by a long shot...

[Is it cold in here?]

Raoulleferre raised the point that the Bianchi parents may have been too busy taking cannabis and peyote and having adventures to be there for their children. The children's problems with relationships are not conclusive but are supportive evidence.

[Akima]

Um, suicide, remember?  In front of her?  I think Marten's mum is a better bet than Faye's dad.

Even Hannermom is arguably a better parent than Faye's dad.

[Method of Madness]

Not that it makes it any better, but I'm fairly certain that Faye's dad didn't know she was there when he pulled the trigger. If anything, though, that probably makes it even harder for Faye, because she probably thinks that if she'd called out as soon as she saw the gun, he may have not done it. That's not at all blaming her, just pointing out that he probably didn't intend for her to see it (although she would have almost certainly heard the gunshot and found his body soon after).

Faye's dad was probably the best parent any of them had until he suddenly wasn't.

[Sidhekin]

Faye's dad was probably the best parent any of them had until he suddenly wasn't.

QFT.

Faye's mom seemed to make a good impression, too – at least in my opinion.  But that "sudden" event rather seems to still overwhelm any and all good parenting Faye once had.

* Sidhekin wonders what Raven's parents are really like ...

[DSL]

... That's not at all blaming her...

Scratch the surface of a real person in Faye's position and you'll likely find she's blaming herself enough (justifiably or not) without any help from anyone else (though you'll find plenty of people willing to help in that regard).

[jwhouk]

I suspect Raven's parents were a lot like Dora's, except it was more "not there because of projects and deadlines" instead of "not there because of weed and road trips".

[Method of Madness]

DSL, that was my point. She blames herself, even though it wasn't her fault at all, and that's what makes it so tragic.

[jwhouk]

Think we should break this convo off to a separate thread?

[Is it cold in here?]

Certainly if it gains traction.

[Bluesummers]

Raven's parents are scientists, right? I'd expect they'd be a bit like HannerDad, with  a splash of Emily.

[SomeCanadianWeirdo]

I note no one has mentioned Hannelore as a parent.  Obvioulsy isn't going to happen with a baby,  especially not one carried by her.  An older kid likely wouldn't be possible either.  I would imagine that she'd  never pass the evaluation by an adoption agency.  Of course her mom might be able to bribe the authorites to pass her, and the results would likely not be good.

Wil and Penelope?  I could imagine him being a "house husband" if she could find a full time career that would pay the bills, or his writing career took off somehow.

Last we saw Amir was living in a band rehearsal studio and bathing with urinal cakes.  Putting him in charge of kids would not be a good idea.

[DSL]

Hannelore might show some surprising capability as a big sister. She is that, in some respects, to Marigold.

[Sidhekin]

To Marigold ... and Emily?

When Marten spoke of having adopted another one, was Hanners implied as one of the early adoptees?

[Barmymoo]

Ooh I like the idea of Wil and Penelope being parents, I can see that one.

[DSL]

To Marigold ... and Emily?

When Marten spoke of having adopted another one, was Hanners implied as one of the early adoptees?

Not sure about Emily (then again, who is?) but as to your second question, yes, I definitely read it that way.

[Carl-E]

They (the Marten/Faye collective) then took Marigold under their wing (remember the bar?) which reenforces the Hannners-as-big-sister pattern. 

[Is it cold in here?]

Hannelore as a crazy aunt could well be positive for a child.

[Method of Madness]

Too bad she's an only child.

[Carl-E]

Aunts and uncles don't need to be actual relatives. 

[Mr_Rose]

Ooh I like the idea of Wil and Penelope being parents, I can see that one.

While it would be entertaining, I fear for the hypothetical child; it will end up either spoiled truly rotten or simply indulged to the point of uselessness outside the context of the family unit.

[Blood-Tree]

As parents?

They would all 'do' really badly (where 'do' is a horrible sexy euphemism).

[Method of Madness]

Horrible or horribly? 

[Blood-Tree]

Ah, my apologies, I should have said: "a horrible, sexy euphemism"

[Is it cold in here?]

Too bad she's an only child.

She did say "only child" once, but has left open the possibility of a clone somewhere.

[Bluesummers]

Too bad she's an only child.

That doesn't mean she can't still be "Auntie Hanners"...gah, that has an adorable ring to it. "Auntie Hanners, can I have a sammich pwease?" "Only if you put your germ-riddled hands in an autoclave first. Remember the saying, 'cleanliness is next to the Higgs Boson'..."

[DSL]

Too bad she's an only child.

That doesn't mean she can't still be "Auntie Hanners"...gah, that has an adorable ring to it. "Auntie Hanners, can I have a sammich pwease?" "Only if you put your germ-riddled hands in an autoclave first. Remember the saying, 'cleanliness is next to the Higgs Boson'..."

And now you've got me thinking: Reverend Mother Gaius Hannelore Ellicott-Chatham.

[Mr. Doctor]

Faye's dad was probably the best parent any of them had until he suddenly wasn't.

QFT indeed.

Don't know if I'm the only one but I'm surprised people are comparing parents like Hanner's mom to Faye's dad. I wonder know how much "bad karma" you get for suicide and if it can really affect the overall parent-quality so to speak. Even Faye somehow acknowledges this by saying the imaginary epitaph: Loving Husband, Devoted Father, Fucking Idiot.

So... he was basically an idiot, but not a bad father per se.

[idontunderstand]

I know what you are saying about Hanner's mum and Faye's dad not really being comparable, but the latter definitely let his daughter down by letting her grow up without a father. Not that I'm judging people who decide to commit suicide in that sense, but it's the truth. He made the choice, he probably couldn't see any other way out, but his daughter had to grow up with a single parent. It's a bit too extreme to classify as "bad parentage" or whatever but it was definitely a bad choice.

A more interesting question maybe: How does her father's suicide affect her as a future parent?

[Redball]

If she brings herself to commit to marriage, and commits again to bringing a child into the world, I think she'll be a good mom. But what do I know? I think if Hanners continued to grow as she has and was able to take the same route, she'd be good too.

[Sidhekin]

I'm pretty sure Faye didn't "grow up" without a father.  If anything, she regressed.

Either way, she was no child when he killed himself.

[idontunderstand]

Ah yeah. My bad. How old was she?

And. Even if she was older than a child then, well. Still not a very good decision, eh?

[Mr. Doctor]

Not a good decision indeed... But in that case it loses quite a lot of weight if we just talk about parenting skills alone.

[Method of Madness]

Ah yeah. My bad. How old was she?

She was around 20 (between sophomore and junior year of college).

[idontunderstand]

Hm. I guess we can conclude that it shouldn't create much problems if she decides to be a mum. I honestly think she would be a great mum, possibly even the best of the cast, if she just gets over her issues and gets ahead in life a little.

[Is it cold in here?]

Hannelore outline how she could be a parent in her Formspring Q&A.

If the kid were conceived in a test tube and grown in a vat until age 18, she'd be willing to teach it how the world worked at that point.

She might be really good at it.