Patrick Thomas

[Karen Brewer]

I thought Patrick was kind of hot in the movie ( ;D) but definitely a total jerk. I still can't get over the fact (after reading Kristy's Portrait Book) that Patrick didn't want to take Elizabeth to the hospital when she first started having labor pains. And when he finally did take her to the hospital, wasn't he more concerned with listening to the game on the radio?

[fluffycakes]

^Heehee! I was just about to post that I really liked the actor from the movie (Peter Horton; for any Grey's Anatomy fans out there, he is a director/executive producer on the show!).

I really don't like Patrick. Such a jerk. But I do love his mini-reunion with Kristy in BSC in the USA. I thought it was sweet, especially the part that mentions his eyes getting all watery when he sees her. Oh, and in Secret Santa, the card he sends her - I admit I nearly cried when I read it. Still, a couple of sweet moments don't make up for the fact he's a big loser.

I wish we could've found out the real reason why he left. While I find the idea that DM isn't his entertaining, I don't really believe it. I agree with those who said he doesn't seem interested in DM because he never knew him. I was expecting more of an explanation in Kristy's Book, but all we got was, essentially, a rehashing of the movie with a couple of details added in. What a rip-off.

[aln1982]

^ I think Patrick was just too selfish to be tied down and having a 4th kid (probably to save the marriage) backfired and he just didn't want to deal with it anymore. That's how it seemed to me, I guess.

[dawnomite]

I have a really really low opinion of anyone who abandons their kids (definitely stems from some issues with certain people in my family-not my dad, though, he's great) but I don't hate Patrick exactly either. I get the feeling that he had kids way too young and always kind of resented them, like he never got a chance to just be young you know? Of course that's no excuse... If you ask me when you choose to bring children into the world, you should take care of them, period. No matter how inconvenient they might be to you. BUT, this is a big reason why my husband and I are not having kids anytime soon. Because if I where to become a parent at the tender age of 22, I'm sure I would end up like Patrick, so I kind of identify scary as that may sound. But that's why I'm not having kids for like 10 years.

[aln1982]

^ Totally agree about taking care of kids if you have them. If I had one by some accident and wasn't ready, I think I'd have to give it up to someone who could care for it and give it everything I couldn't (I'm a big supporter of adoption)
Anyway, all I could ever think with Patrick is don't have FOUR kids! But it takes two to make babies ;D I have had a more postive impression of Elizabeth lately but this is the one thing that bothers me is that she kept having kids with Patrick even after she (I think) realized that things weren't working out. Just my opinion and impressions, though.

[sotypical42483]

Were there indications that the relationship wasn't working out though? I was always under the (admittedly possibly false) impression that Patrick kinda up and took off out of the blue.

[lyricalangel]

^It always seemed like that to me too.

[aln1982]

Maybe I'm just thinking of a mention of fighting in Kristy's Book. That is the one that really gave me the negative impression of Patrick even more than other books, which don't give me all that great of an impression of him anyway ;D

[aln1982]

I was just thinking that the books always made it sound like Elizabeth didn't get child support from Patrick. Couldn't she have had his wages garnished? I think he was working as a sports writer and they do make some money. Wouldn't have been much but it would have helped. Don't know much about laws for that kind of thing, though, and it might depend on the state. I know people here can have ex's wages garnished even if they live out of state but it gets a lot harder. Still can be done, though.

[alula]

I think it's harder to garnish money from someone who works freelance (since they get paid individually by lots of employers and usually in somewhat inconsistent amounts per month), and I always assumed that was how Patrick worked, rather than as a staff reporter anyplace. I'm sure it can be done, but it might well cost Elizabeth more in legal fees than she would get in support.

[liss31d]

In the early books, I think they imply that Patrick did send child support money.

[aln1982]

^ I remember that too but other books mentioned that he didn't send support. Maybe he stopped or maybe it was an inconsistency. ;D Agree it would have been more trouble than it was worth to get the money, probably. Just was thinking about it and wondered if anyone else did too. I always thought that Patrick worked as a staff writer but I guess it never really said. Maybe he was just a freelancer, or at least became one after he took off.

[anzuhana]

I hate Patrick. He's one of my least favorite characters, if not my least favorite. I don't understand why Elizabeth married him and had four kids with him.

[anzuhana]

Sorry for the double post. I'm just curious as to why he got married three times. After his first and second marriage didn't work out, it should've been a wake-up call for him to probably not get married anymore. I would've liked to find out why the second marriage didn't work out. Most likely, Patrick was being his selfish, immature self but still...

[sparklymouse]

There are a lot of financial benefits to getting married. Patrick probably didn't marry the second time purely for luv.

My grandma has been married 3 times. If she wasn't close to 80 and thought it was too much of a hassle, she would probably be divorced 3 times. *shrugs*