Kristy's Portrait

[macca]

Okay, I know this was ghostwritten, but d**n! Ann had some serious man issues. Could Kristy's father have been any more of a bastard? FFS! The guy apparently didn't even pay child support?! How did he get around that? I'm sure there's a horde of irresponsible deadbeats who want to know his secret.

I still stand by my theory that David Michael had a different daddy. How could a man possibly have four kids with a woman and then just take off out of the blue without even a single word of explanation?! And when he returned seven yrs later, how could he have no interest in his youngest child who was practically a newborn last time he saw him?

Ugh, enough Patrick-ranting.

I like this book, there was a bit too much softball stuff, but we weren't absolutely bombarded, so that's a good thing. I felt sorry for Kristy, the day she snuck out to watch Car Man with her brothers and then wasn't allowed to see the movie the following day. I know she'd done the wrong thing and all but still... it was also cute to see the interaction with Claudia and Mary Anne.

[buffykay70]

haha, i remember Car Man, sounds like such a dumb film. and i hated Patrick too. such an ass. and i really liked watson in this book.

and was this the one where they go to the Sea Rose. i liked when they lost david michael at the beach and were worried. i liked how kristy and claudia bonded more (minus maryanne) and had a secret to keep just between them.

kristys portrait was one of the more well written ones and one of the ones i enjoyed the most of all the ones i have read: Staceys, Claud, Kristy, Dawns

[jen]

The Sea Rose was in Claudia's Book. But I agre, I did like that chapter; it was cool.

Patrick didn't ever seem to be a nice guy - he wanted to watch a baseball game instead of take hiswife who was in labour to hospital?!?

[aln1982]

I agree that Patrick was a total jerk! I think, though, that David Michael is his kid - probably one of the "save the marriage" babies that never work and always backfire. I don't get Elizabeth's logic in having 4 kids with such a jerk.
I felt really bad for the kids after their dad left and they were left to fend for themselves. Kind of made me wonder where Nannie was. After all, she is living with Watson and Elizabeth now to take care of Emily and help out. Seems like they needed her more before.
That brings me to another point... why did they "have to have" Emily if Elizabeth doesn't want to stay home with her? I assume that she is working because she wants to because they obviously don't need the money with Watson being a millionaire.

[macca]

I agree that Patrick was a total jerk! I think, though, that David Michael is his kid - probably one of the "save the marriage" babies that never work and always backfire. I don't get Elizabeth's logic in having 4 kids with such a jerk.

Given that this is BSC Land, I agree that DM is probably Patrick's kid and I agree that the "save the marriage" theory makes sense. Still, it just seemed odd that Patrick would walk out after he was born without a word of warning and never show even a slight interest in his newborn son. And word on the whole four kids thing. Surely Patrick had shown signs of being an irresponsible ass before his sudden departure.

That brings me to another point... why did they "have to have" Emily if Elizabeth doesn't want to stay home with her? I assume that she is working because she wants to because they obviously don't need the money with Watson being a millionaire.

Total word. I never wanted to address this point too much before for fear of being flamed, but come on. You adopt a child from a foreign country and then dump her on your mother while you return to full time employment? The same mother who was conspicuously absent when your husband walked out leaving you with four kids?

No matter what Nannie's circumstances, taking care of a toddler full time is a HUGE responsibility and it seems strange that someone as social and active as Nannie would want to devote her retirement to the task, particularly considering her son-in-law is a millionaire and perfectly able to afford childcare (or even for - shock horror - his wife to take time off work in order raise their adopted child). I can understand her wanting to live with the Thomas-Brewer clan if she doesn't enjoy living alone, but expecting her to take on the task of raising an two yr old child is unreasonable IMO. And then when Karen and Andrew decided they wanted to live at the Big House every other month? Presumably Nannie was primarily responsible for them as well - and they weren't even her own daughter's kids.

Ann can't stand the prospect of the stay at home mother, it seems - not even when the women's children are infants or toddlers. She doesn't even let them cut down their working hours. Heaven forbid a mother doesn't return to full time work almost immediately.

[aln1982]

I am so glad that someone agrees with me on this! I hesistated to post for fear of being blasted by all of those who think that women should absolutely not stay home with thier kids. I guess I am old fashioned but my mom stayed home with me and I'm really glad she did. I think it is especially important when the kids are toddlers and babies and agree that Ann does seem to have a problem with this. Claudia's mom worked, too, didn't she? I know it was mentioned in Claudia's Book that Mimi stayed at home with her and Janine. I guess if the mom has to work, a grandparent is often the best choice for a caregiver but I don't see why some of these moms had to work at all.
As for signs of Patrick leaving, I think Elizabeth should have been prepared for it - probably after Charlie was born. I still don't understand why she would have 4 kids with the jerk!

[macca]

I don't think it's an old fashioned idea to support the notion that one of the child's parents are their primary caregiver in the early years and, despite Ann's strange way of looking at it, it's actually anti-feminist to insist that all mothers return to work ASAP or risk setting the women's movement back 50 yrs.

Feminism is about choices and it seems unrealistic that every single BSC mother (except Mallory's) would choose to return to full time work and leave their infants and toddlers in the care of extended family members. Particularly Elizabeth, who adopted a child and has a millionaire husband.

Yes, Claudia's mother worked. She was head librarian.

[jen]

What I don't get is how Nannie has time for Emily Michelle, but not when Patrick first walked out. Wtf?

[Deleted]

Personally, I think the whole Patrick saga has been exaggerrated and there is more to this storey than we are led to believe. We're being led to believe that Patrick upped and left without explaination and never looked back

But Kristy (i think it was) said in one book that her parent's anounced that they were divorcing and Mr Thomas anounced he was moving to California and he moved out.

I think there are two sides to every story (not that I'm saying Patrick is right in barely contacting his kids). And I think Edie/Lizzie has been telling her kids part truths.

As for child support..He does pay it. (Kristy likes to exaggerate.)

the bits with her father in it, is probably is just Kristy displaying her anger, disappointment at her father.

[aln1982]

I agree that there is more to the story and that Kristy does exaggerate. But she did try to have a relationship with him in this one (even though she didn't go about it right) and he didn't seem to show that much interest in her (the baseball glove). He seems like the kind of guy to come into his kids' life when it is convenient and then just do whatever suits him best. If I were Kristy, I would be disappointed in him too. I think he could try harder to be a part of their lives. I'm glad that she has Watson as I think he is really good to her. Just my thoughts on the subject.

[ktag]

I finally got some of the portraits! Woohoo!

Patrick's a bastard. He's patronizing and selfish. I don't know about exaggeration, but she clearly says that he left without a word both times. Only wanting to see your daughter and none of your sons? Odd.

Staying at a ball game while in labor? And then driving from New York back to Connecticut first? Umm...okay. I guess it worked out, since she didn't give birth until 4am, but geez.

A left-handed shortstop? And a small one at that. She really must have been good, cause that's rare.

Leaving 10, 8 and 6 year olds home by themselves? Hmm.

Anyway, I did like this. The stories from when she was younger were really cute.

[macca]

^ agree with all the above points. The stories from when she was younger were cute, but the snowwoman thing bugged me (as we've already discussed ;D )

Funny how Patrick would have no interest in David Michael, who was an infant when he left (although DM's paternity has been debated!) ... and total word, it makes no sense at all that Patrick only wanted to see his daughter. Not to mention making her keep it a secret. Creepy.

I don't know the first thing about baseball, so the logistics of Kristy's position never occurred to me. Maybe they assumed all BSC readers were unathletic?

[jen]

Er. What's wrong with a left-handed short stop?

[ktag]

Well, it's not that there's anything wrong with it. It's just that it's better to throw across your body, and if you're left handed, you'd have to turn around to get an accurate throw to first base, which is on your left. So it's not as easy and takes more time. Most left handers pitch, play outfield, or maybe first base. I think Ann only has a basic understanding of the game, which isn't important to the books, I'm just being picky.

[jen]

Oh, right. I'm not really into sports, as you can tell