Jordan Harbinger

If I recall correctly, we did kind of nod to Peter, what he knows about the situation, what he doesn't know, what role he can play in making things fairer for his mom.

You're right, it's easy to villainize Ellie.

There were plenty of details in the letter that suggested she was oblivious at best and selfish at worst.

Totally.

And so is that misogyny?

Are we just blaming all the women in the story because they're women?

I'm not sure I agree there.

But I do take your point that it can be easier to point the finger at a woman when it comes to child care than at a man who's at work.

during the day.

And I guess because the bar is pretty low for men in the child care department, they're traditionally not as involved with the kids.

But I also remember us saying that if Peter knew what was happening at the house, he might have some strong feelings about it and intervene.

So I don't think we really did let him off the hook entirely either.

Yeah.

Where I fully agree with our friend here is even if Ellie's out of line, we can be curious about her reasons.

Like you said, maybe Ellie has no one else.

Maybe she's spending so much time with the mom because she's lonely and exhausted and craves the connection.

And that's fair.

Although I do kind of remember us talking about that, how maybe time at her mother-in-law's house is actually a reprieve from child care.

For sure.

I'm remembering now.