Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer

[booboobrewer]

alula said:

And I believe that a ten-year-old, likewise, is way too young to be in charge of an eight-year-old and a six-year-old on a regular basis. Some ten-year-olds (not all) could handle being home by themselves after school, and maybe occasionally watching their younger siblings for short periods if something unexpected comes up, but I really don't think it's safe or reasonable to be doing regularly. I'm not sure it was intended as Ann envisioned her in "Kristy's Great Idea" though--she really did seem to be making a conscious effort not to put too much on the older kids there, by hiring sitters two days a week so they were able to do extracurriculars and stuff.

Agree with that. I think some of the later-written stuff does stray from Ann's original "vision" of their family dynamic.

From a character perpspective, sometimes I like to think Edie Thomas was the really cool one and then she got bit by the body-snatchers that make most of the parents of Stoneybrook so clueless they need their lives organized by thirteen-year-olds. And changed her name to Elizabeth.

Ha! Good theory.

[Deleted]

is there any chance that Edie is a nickname for Elizabeth??

[aln1982]

^ I think Edie might be a nickname for Elizabeth. I'm kind of glad they changed the name to Elizabeth, or at least started calling her that, because I don't care for "Edie" much. It sounds like a name for an older person.
Speaking of that, anyone get the feeling that Elizabeth is younger than Watson and that his first wife, Lisa, might be even younger than that? I don't know why but this is how I've always pictured it, maybe because Watson's heart attack.

[Amalia]

^ I've always thought that also. But only got that impression from the picture of Watson in Kristy & Mr. Mom.

[dawnomite]

aln1982 said:

^ I think Edie might be a nickname for Elizabeth. I'm kind of glad they changed the name to Elizabeth, or at least started calling her that, because I don't care for "Edie" much. It sounds like a name for an older person.
Speaking of that, anyone get the feeling that Elizabeth is younger than Watson and that his first wife, Lisa, might be even younger than that? I don't know why but this is how I've always pictured it, maybe because Watson's heart attack.

I've always thought that too. I picture Watson late 40's to mid 50's, Elizabeth late 30's (I can't remember if Kristy ever mentions exactly how old she is) and Lisa very early 30's.

[sotypical42483]

Those are the exact same ages I would say, dawnomite.

[aln1982]

^ Me too. Glad I'm not alone I would also picture Seth as being closer to Lisa (maybe Elizabeth's age) than Watson's, though he does look a little older than that on the cover of Karen's Birthday (from what I remember) I had always thought that was Watson on the cover until I considered the beard.

[sugarmonkey]

Did Hodges do the cover art for LS books also? I'm thinking of the fact that the BSC members usually look older on the covers, so that might not be the best place to judge ages. I remember in an early book, Kristy didn't come right out and say her mom was in her late thirties, but it was aluded to, like a do the math kind of comment. I always got same impression as dawnomite and sotypical regarding ages.

[aln1982]

I just read Kristy and the Cat Burglar and she calls her mom "superwoman" because she made sure the kids were fed, clothed, etc. I guess I can see how a kid would think their mom was great and suppose it's nice that Kristy is so greatful instead of being resentful.
Anyway, I think I've said this before, but I really like Elizabeth in the LS books. I see a lot more interaction and the "close relationship" that is always mentioned in the regular books but doesn't seem to be shown as much.

[fairy3lf2]

I always thought of Elizabeth as a bit like Watson's trophy wife. Does anybody else see her as quite good looking?

[aln1982]

I assume she's good looking, too, but for some reason have never considered Watson as the kind to have a "trophy wife". He seems like too much of a down to earth kind of guy. But I do know what you mean and picture both Elizabeth and Lisa as pretty.

[greer]

I see them both as pretty but in a down-to-earth, natural, friendly way--not some dolled up trophy wife.

[inge]

I agree. I think they're probably both pretty (as is about anyone in BSC world) but they seem way to down to earth to be 'trophy wives'.

[aln1982]

^ Those are my exact thoughts on it.
Another question about Watson and Elizabeth is how did they meet? Is that ever mentioned? I guess Stoneybrook is a small town but I wondered if they worked together or something like that.
Also, in Kristy and the Snobs, I like it how Kristy says Watson and Elizabeth share equally in the household chores and that Watson is actually a better cook.

[sugarmonkey]

I forgot where I learned this but Watson and Elizabeth met through work.