Eight is enough

July 1st, 2009

The momentary fascination with the reality TV train wreck “Jon & Kate Plus 8” has me wondering if the sad saga of family striving and dissolution is beneficial as a morality tale. Does the failed couple’s melodrama teach a real-life lesson about balancing careers, money, self-image, household responsibilities, individuality and passion post-parenthood?

Yes, there’s a lesson, in the same sense that wildfires teach us not to throw matches and car accidents teach us not to text behind the wheel. The damage, however, is so dear that it’s hardly redemptive unless we can change the course of our own catastrophe.

“Jon & Kate Plus 8” is the story of what happens when what we have is not enough. A young and aspiring couple finds that the babies don’t come easy enough, the family isn’t full enough, the money doesn’t go far enough, the house isn’t big enough, the help doesn’t help enough, the good times aren’t good enough and the ever after isn’t happy enough.

Sound familiar? This isn’t just their dirty laundry; it’s mine and likely yours too. More than that, it’s the basis of Buddhism.

Read the rest and leave a comment on “The Laundry Line”
my blog at Shambhala SunSpace

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3 Comments »

  1. Hi Karen,
    I know I am suppossed to comment on "The Laundry Line" but I can't get there cause my work computer blocks it as "religious." (Ok why am I reading your blog at work…) Anyway I like to read the rest of it sometimes, on another (unblocked) computer.
    Emma

    Comment by ELJ — July 1, 2009 @ 5:50 pm

  2. great post! j šŸ™‚

    Comment by LobotoME — July 1, 2009 @ 9:14 pm

  3. I stumbled here from Superheros place…I want to read more…great blog….great post.

    Comment by Leslie — July 2, 2009 @ 5:31 pm

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