The McGills: Family of 3 again?

[zoar3]

I am re-reading the Series for the umpteenth time and have reached the Stacey "Bad Girl" arc. This wasn't a storyline I particularly cared for but a few nights ago it got me thinking about the McGills as a family. Thus this poll/question.

In Stacey, the Math Whiz, one of the 2 subplots is Ed being laid off from his job and suddenly having free time in which to yes job hunt but also re-evaluate his life as well as spend time with Stacey. I've been wondering if this idea had been moved "up" (This was book #104, I believe) closer to the "Bad Girl" period, could it have possibly led to a reconcilliation. I may be in the minority but I think Ed's character was drastically changed during and after the divorce. The McGills chapters in the prequel, truly made them sound like a close, loving family, with Ed, actually a better parent than Maureen. Shrug, they seemed close.

What do you Ladies (and, of course, any gentlemen) think? If nothing else, had Ed even contemplated moving back (even temporarily) to Stoneybrook after being laid off would have made for a very interesting plot. I don't think that would have been too far-fetched either. I'll stop rambling now and hit "post message."

[anzuhana]

No, because why would Ed remarry Marueen, someone his age when he could marry Samantha, someone who would then be his trophy wife?

[zoar3]

^Sadly, that's true Anzuhana. I was just trying to see the possible good in Ed. Even if he and Maureen did not get back together, which by then may have been too late, I did think he could have chosen to re-think his relationship with at least Stacey after he was laid off. I know they saw each other a couple times a months, sometimes seeing closer than others, and that mostly he took her out to fancy restaurants or shows. I also fully concede that ate age 13, Stacey probably did not want to hang out with her dad all the time. All I'm suggesting is perhaps a little greater effort could have been made on his part and that if he had ever moved back to CT, that could have made for one interesting story.

[sparklymouse]

I think, simply put, Maureen got a life of her own and got over Ed.

I wish Ed had lived in Stoneybrook just to have a more average divorced family. Karen was the only one with both parents in the same place. Every other family situation made divorce seem like this super dramatic tragedy.

[zoar3]

Sparklymouse, your post (is once again) filled with wry, right on humor. I never thought of the Karen situation but you're right.

Mr. Kuhn was in Texas

Mr. Barrett, did he other than in the kidnapping, ever make an appearance? I don't think he even wrote Buddy back in SS #10. I THINK I just read he moved to Anyway SS#12, told us he lives in Milwaukee.

Who else?

[sparklymouse]

^Dawn's parents were on separate coasts, and Kristy's dad was a wandering vagabond or something. Those two plus Stacey's parents were really who I was thinking about. I always thought it would have been interesting to have a club member (aka someone old enough to go back and forth between homes rather freely) in a two-two situation.

As for the clients, I wish there had been at least one frequent charge that the club sat for at both parents' homes. They may have had to deal with different parenting styles/house rules with the same kids. Karen doesn't count because she very rarely got a sitter at the little house.

To go back to what this thread is supposed to be about, if Ed decided he did want Maureen back do you think he would have liked the career woman she had become?

[oldhickory]

^ he probably would have been relieved that she wasn't spending all his money anymore.

[zoar3]

I didn't include the Sitters because I was thinking of the charges. I guess I should stay on topic of my own thread better!

^Lol, probably. Maureen did come across as rather "needy" in Welcome Back, Stacey. If all she truly did most of the day was go shopping at high end stores, frittering away money "because she was bored," than SHE needs some help. That wasn't exactly a good parent role model for Stacey either. I'm in no way saying Ed, the (becoming more and more) workaholic was, just that, she wasn't either.

[lilafowler]

Jul 26, 2010 21:59:54 GMT -5 oldhickory said:

^ he probably would have been relieved that she wasn't spending all his money anymore.

LOL, seriously. And if I were Ed, I would be glad to be rid of Maureen's Tiffany-shopping ass. Even if she started working and presumably had a better idea of the value of a dollar, that doesn't mean she no longer has entitlement issues -- from Welcome Back, Stacey: “Maybe if you were home more often I wouldn’t be so bored. When I get bored I shop … sometimes.” Ed suggests she get a job, but my first thought was volunteering. Maureen sounds a little Real Housewifey in the book. It's mentioned in Stacey's Choice and Stacey's Big Crush that Ed pays alimony and that honestly sounds like adding insult to injury to me.

[zoar3]

I dare say it's sounding like Ed might sort of be a better parent than Maureen? Either that or they both are not too great!

[greer]

I don't see how Ed is a better parent than Maureen. In Stacey and the Math Whiz, he was laid off for that little bit and once he found a new job, I don't think it was long until he was working the same hours that he was before. I have a workaholic dad myself, and I don't think it's something that people can change, except if there's like, a nervous breakdown or something.

Maureen bought a lot of stuff because she was bored. Once she got her own life in Stoneybrook, she no longer needed to be fulfilled by going to Tiffany's. And I think Samantha is someone who understands Ed better than Maureen did, and is ok with him working a lot because she, too, has a pretty high-powered career as a fashion photographer. I think Maureen would be happier with someone a little more down-to-earth. I think she and Stacey became very close after the divorce. It's easy for Ed to be a good dad when he only sees Stacey for two weekends a month and he can be what Dawn termed "Disneyland Daddy."

Alimony is generally paid until the divorce settlement, plus Maureen would receive child support since she has primary custody.

[zoar3]

I don't think either of them would ever be candidates for parent of the year. I liked early Ed (in the first few books but mainly in the Prequel). I did think as time went on Stacey and her mom did become closer.

I sure would not want my man to be a workaholic. Definitely one of my "Mr. Right" qualities is that he is down to earth.

[greer]

Well, I think it depends what you value in life. If you like status and money, then a workaholic might not be a bad thing. If you want someone who's around all the time and you prefer the simpler things in life, then a workaholic isn't for you.