How To Celebrate Mother’s Day Better With Netflix Series Mindhunter?
Are you celebrating Mother’s Day? If yes, here’s a fun little story for you — Anna Jarvis created the Mother’s Day. It caught on. President signed as a holiday. And immediately, the companies commercialized. It was so bad, Anna petitioned to abolish the day. But she fell ill. And those greeting companies paid her bills. The greeting companies still cheapen the day. And, we still celebrate it coz companies peer pressured us to. Happy Mother’s Day. Yay! I don’t know how to feel about the day!!
To me, the celebration of the day feels very superficial. Most people post a pic with their mothers. Share one poem copied from the internet. And/Or an anecdote where she is a flawless, selfless person who does only nice things. Isn’t it interesting that everybody’s mother is a saint but somehow the date’s and fiancee’s mothers become evil? Are we missing something?
I feel, hiding dark aspects of motherhood is disrespecting it. The Netflix series ‘Mindhunter’ does that in a good way.
1. Dark Side of Motherhood
Mindhunter’s star serial killer Ed Kemper too had an unhealthy relationship with his mother. describes his relationship with his mother. His father left them. His mother vent the anger on him. Berating him. Locking him in the basement. No affection and extreme verbal abuse. She was a major part in making of a monster. They use this insight in catching another serial killer in the making.
2. Bright Side of Motherhood
After an extremely intense interview, where the agent gets a confession from the killer. The investigator Holden Ford describes that he got basic principles from his mother. As shown in the video below.
3. What Attitude Towards Mothers Shows?
Dates are an interesting problem for women — All men behave nicely for a first few meets. And by the time, the shitty ones show they are shitty we’re involved with them. Mindhunter shows an interesting shortcut to know whether a date is a good person or Shitty Person disguised as a good person:
“My mom used to say she could tell a lot about the boys Arlene was going out with by asking them how they felt about their mothers. If the boy professed love and respect for his mother, that would probably reflect his relationships with other women in his life. If he thought of his mother as a bitch or whore or ball-buster, chances were pretty darn good he’d end up treating other women the same way.
From my experience, my mom’s observation was right on the money.”(Excerpt From: John Douglas, Mark Olshaker. “Mindhunter.” )
4. Too Long Did Not Read Section:
A lot of serial killers were products of broken mother-son relationship. Mothers are not responsible for the murders but they do play a role in a child’s development both good and bad. Mother’s Day would be empty gesture if we skip this conversation.
This is why we should appreciate the role of choice in motherhood. Fewer people will resent children if they are conceived intentionally. Educating about sex to prevent unintended pregnancies. Not pressurizing them to become mom immediately one year after marriage. This way we’ll have lesser serial killer folks and a more meaningful gesture for Mother’s Day. And I’ll finally know how to feel about it —Proud.
(P.S: I’m sure mom has a role in my insecurities but I’m not a serial killer. For that I’ll be forever grateful. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!)