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Episode 8 Recap: "Baby Love"
Becoming a sexual person is a memorable part of growing up, but how many can say that it started when watching the movie Swimfan? Isabella can. She is becoming a young woman, exploring the changes in her body and poses questions about them to her mother. As someone who now wants to avoid talking about sex in therapy, Katie seemed to respond sensitively and was comfortable telling Isabella it's OK to touch herself.
Dr. May is two minutes late for their session and Katie is ready to bolt. But therapy must be working because the tables have turned. Dave is now the one who wants to stay and talk. I'm not clear on Katie's about-face regarding therapy. She is probably getting closer to the heart of her problem and is afraid to go there. With Dr. May firing direct questions about orgasms and sexual positions (he likes Katie on top, she prefers the opposite), Katie is out of her comfort zone. I don't think her revelation of wanting to raise another baby will ease the pain — it will only mask any existing problems.
Speaking of having a baby, Carolyn isn't getting much support after announcing she's pregnant. Palek looks horrified, her boss says it's bad timing, and her sister Mason is surprised to learn she was trying. Only the mothers at the birthday party are excited. Carolyn is given hope when seeing Palek in the jumper with the kids. This playful side of Palek is deceptive and I suspect shows him reverting back to being a child instead of becoming a good parent. He stopped a boy from crying but was he actually moved by viewing an image of himself?
Palek's story may have had the most depth and was the hardest for me to inspect this week. He ditches Carolyn to visit Dr. May alone and reveals his father ditched him when he was 3 years old. Palek is frightened of his wife's pregnancy because he has no good role model for fatherhood. Palek despises his father yet is much like him (he even sounds like him), especially when admitting he wants to run out on his unborn baby. It seems like the conflict with his father has created an internalized hatred he can't escape. Moving annually from house to house won't fix that. Hopefully running to Dr. May will help.
Nick is also unsettled and moving in with Jamie doesn't help. She remarks that the single bag he brings is too big, and complains that he should have asked before fixing the toilet. They fight and then have bad sex. (Will she end up taking Nick to therapy, too?) With all of these negative signals, Jamie asks him to stay when he starts to leave. Prompted by a "toxic" dinner with Mason and Terrence (Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones), Nick tells Jamie she is beautiful and asks why people stay together if they make each other miserable. She doesn't know, then is silent when he says to her: "Tell me you love me."
Random thoughts:
• Could Katie have negative body issues, which is why she encourages Isabella to sexually explore herself?
• Rita made Katie (and me) laugh when she loudly announced to other customers in the restaurant: "Yes, we're talking about sex… someone has to."
• Dave explaining why they should stay in therapy: "It's like when you clean out the garage and you have all this crap on the floor… you can't leave it like that."
• Katie tells Dave she wants a baby and he says, "It's like putting the chicken before the egg."
• Mason is cynical regarding relationships. Does she need a visit with Dr. May?
• May and Arthur ponder whether they would have been good parents. Some feel you can't understand what it's like to be a parent without having had a child. Is that a fair assessment and does it hinder Dr. May's effectiveness?
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Oct 28, 2007 11:22 PM
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I was surprised by Katie's reaction to Bella's confession about touching herself. I really expected Katie to freak out given her own issues with self pleasuring. I think she handled it well and hopefully will set Bella up for a much better insight and perspective on sexuality.
I also find it interesting how Katie and Dave joke about their lack of intimacy now when it was such a hot button before. For example, when Katie was telling Dave about the discussion she had with Bella, she joked about being in a house full of masturbators. Just thought that was a little weird...
I think horrified is the right word to explain Palek's reaction to Carolyn's pregnancy. Has there been much explanation as to why Palek's mother feels that Carolyn thinks she is crazy?
As for Jamie...that's a train wreck. She is in therapy because of bad habits in relationships. Does she not think this is continuing the cycle by having the guy move in after only a couple of dates? Doesn't seem like the most thought out plan.
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Oct 29, 2007 1:01 PM
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This is the most depressing show I have ever seen!!!
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Oct 29, 2007 1:07 PM
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Er... I think the show is really facinating because it is dealing with real issues people face.
I think Katie is talking about having another baby because that is a safe place for her. Sex as baby-making act vs. intimacy with her husband. I am not sure she has body issues as much as difficulty feeling sexual, period.
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Oct 29, 2007 3:10 PM
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I really am moved by this show. I love how the camera angles make you feel like you are eaves dropping in on a couples most private moments.
More and More...I also see that this show seems to be about every age and every stage of a relationship.
This show also has made me see things in my own relationship in a lot of new ways and I am very appreciative of it.
I think I'm a Palek mixed with Jamie. LOL
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Oct 31, 2007 8:03 PM
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