To think the Parent Trap parents are the worst parents ever?

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

Disclaimer: lighthearted, I know it's a film.

Watching (the Lindsay Lohan) Parent Trap with DD, how utterly SHIT are both the mum and dad:

• they take one twin each when they're 1yo and vow never to see the other because the adults don't like each other
• they never acknowledge this or apologise for it
• they keep it a secret from their daughters that the girls have a twin, and seem to see now fault or feel no guilt about thia
• the dad gets engaged when his daughter is away for the summer, to someone she's never met, and "surprises" her with the news.
• when the mum finds out her estranged daughter has been with her in secret, she's more bothered about the prospect of meeting her ex again
• the dad lets his 11yo drink wine
• they get prickly when either child asks about their estranged mother/father
• when the girls almost kill the dad's fiancée by pushing her inflatable bed into the middle of a lake while she sleeps, he just goes "meh"

I also want to know -

• how a woman who only owns a wedding dress shop can afford to have a huge house in what looks like Holland Park, complete with butler
• why someone would send their child to the US from London for summer childcare
• how a 26 year old owns her own wildly successful PR company in California
• what kind of name is Chessie? (The "maid" in California)?

Even 8yo DD is pointing out how awful they all are 😂

@Witchend

I don't think they're the worst parents ever though. Horrid Henry's are definitely worse, and plenty of other kids lit parents are at best negligent.

I liked the original "Lottie and Lisa "book. Wasn't it written by the same person who wrote "Emil and the Detectives"?

Oh god don't get me started on Horrid Henry's parents. When DD went through a phase of watching it and asked me why he was so naughty I was honest. I said it's because he just wants attention, and is it any wonder when his brother is clearly the favoured child and he's always being put down and has the worst expected of him. also there's no discipline other than "don't be horrid Henry". Yes I took it too seriously but she did ask

Am I being too bleeding obvious in pointing out this is not real life and you can’t judge films by your real life standards?

Usual Hollywood standard of living though! Like all films , never Jenny and Tom from Staines living in a semi is it? Probably had a high flying job/wealthy ex husband sending maintenance ,or family cash.Home Alone another case in point ,Rich family leave child under 10 when they jet off on hols. No sign of SS obv! Still love the film though.

@DryRoastPeanut

Am I being too bleeding obvious in pointing out this is not real life and you can’t judge films by your real life standards?

Yes, as I pointed out I know that and it's a lighthearted thread.

@dottiedodah

Usual Hollywood standard of living though! Like all films , never Jenny and Tom from Staines living in a semi is it? Probably had a high flying job/wealthy ex husband sending maintenance ,or family cash.Home Alone another case in point ,Rich family leave child under 10 when they jet off on hols. No sign of SS obv! Still love the film though.

We have moved on to Home Alone now! It's basically a day of Shit Parenting Movies.

Every time I watch home alone all I can think of is "I wonder how much their mortgage is"

It's a joke @DryRoastPeanutdry. No one's actually serious, it's just fun to talk about.

Not to mention, they can't know the girls THAT well if neither twigs that it's a completely different person!

@berrygirlie

It's a joke *@DryRoastPeanutdry*. No one's actually serious, it's just fun to talk about.

I thought that was obvious 🤷‍♀️ this is still MN though and some people can't take lighthearted threads on a lighthearted way. I wouldn't be surprised if someone pops along soon and tells me I'm only seeing a snippet of the parent's life, maybe they're depressed, and I should take Dennis Quaid out for a creme egg

I'd take Dennis Quaid out for a Creme Egg anyday, @GlummyMcGlummerson

Too right @berrygirlie He can put his creme in my egg any day

Chessie is short for Francesca.

Both versions are pretty good!!

🤪

I've never seen the film, either version, but I did read the book when I was about 8 or so. Innocent me never gave a thought to the parents separating and splitting twins. Although knowing me I probably thought it was an excellent idea and a way to get rid of my brother. (Not my twin)

I still have a much loved copy of the book this was based from when I was at primary school.

I know a family where the parents split up and dad took the son. Mum took the daughter They weren’t twins but it messed him up in a fairly major way
Dad re married and stepmom brought him up
Bio mum didn’t try to stay in touch - they all live in the same town

Terrible idea.

@Witchend

I don't think they're the worst parents ever though. Horrid Henry's are definitely worse, and plenty of other kids lit parents are at best negligent.

I liked the original "Lottie and Lisa "book. Wasn't it written by the same person who wrote "Emil and the Detectives"?

Yes, Erich Kastner wrote Emil and the Detectives as well as Lottie and Lisa.

I was always disappointed I didn't have a name that could be split to name two daughters as in the book (the Mum's name was Lisalotte if I remember correctly) as it is, I've got boys so didn't need to worry

I thought the mum was a designer, like Caroline Castagliano-type with wedding dresses and that’s how she was so wealthy.

I did always wonder why she chose to send her daughter to camp in the USA. I’ve known people from college who worked for Camp America but never heard of anyone who went as a child, in all my 41 years.

Annie’s outfits were ridiculous, again in all my years I’ve never heard of/seen young kids dressed how she was.

It is one of my favourites though.

@Heatherjayne1972

I know a family where the parents split up and dad took the son. Mum took the daughter They weren’t twins but it messed him up in a fairly major way Dad re married and stepmom brought him up Bio mum didn’t try to stay in touch - they all live in the same town

Terrible idea.

God that's awful like I say hardly Disney material but yet Disney made a movie out of this situation!

@purpleme12

I don't care it's a brilliant film! 😂 Won't hear anything bad about it!

And I thought it was Jessie too!

This ^

Its one of my favourites and I won't hear a word against it.

My ex and I always joked that if we split up we would keep one DC each because we had "his and hers kids" DS1 looked like my family and DS2 looked like his. Of course we didn't. He barely sees them at all actually. (And they've switched looks so much. DS1 is a blonde version of his Dad. DS2 is my clone.)

I also fancy Dennis Quaid. Then, now, forever

I'm sorry, but the most unrealistic thing about The Parent Trap is Lindsay Logan's English accent...

She was only 11ish I think, I thought she did a great job! @mongoosebabye

I just followed him on Insta.

Is anyone brave enough