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Original poster

______MY HEART BELONGS TO DAD_____BBC2_____9.00________

29 replies

RTKangaMummy · 18/10/2006 19:16

WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER

Documentary

My Heart Belongs to Dad

9:00pm - 10:30pm

BBC2 London & South East

VIDEO Plus+: 8505
Subtitles, widescreen

This is one of those documentaries that just slightly opens up your view of the world. It tells three separate stories of families that have had to learn to function without mothers. Together, they movingly illustrate how fathers and children, using humour, tough love and dodgy cooking, learn to cope. Take John and Kelly from Walsall. When Kelly moved out, John was left to look after their three children. He seems like a top dad ("I'm hoping I'll be able to make a meal from what I've grabbed," he says cheerfully after a shopping trip), but watching him and the kids wrestle with the contradictions that swamp them is tough. Even tougher are the stories of two families where mums have died. Your heart goes out to them - as John tells his children at one point, "Empathy - empathy's the word."

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OP posts:
Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 18/10/2006 20:27
Smile
OP posts:
tiredemma · 18/10/2006 20:59

bump for this - its on in a minute. go and get your hankies.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 18/10/2006 20:59

;kjoijoij

OP posts:
Posey · 18/10/2006 21:15

No hanky yet, but already awe-inspired.

Posey · 18/10/2006 21:21

Hankies out now

nutcracker · 18/10/2006 21:50

Is she for real ? What a cow.

charliebat · 18/10/2006 22:19

What a moving programme.

nutcracker · 18/10/2006 22:33

It was a very moving programme, i wish they'd given an update on each family at the end though.

Have to say that the mum who left her kids made me fell really really angry and i don' think for a minute that she will stay.

Gem13 · 18/10/2006 22:35

Didn't see the first family but the last one, crikey...

It was so sad on so many different levels. And not great viewing when 30 weeks pregnant either.

nellie245 · 18/10/2006 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BATtymumma · 18/10/2006 22:37

i missed this but i did see the father and daughter who was born paralysed and her mum had died (what a tragic start to life) on BBC this morning.

all i could think of was A) what an amazing young girl and B) ooh dad's quite fit!

part of me is glad i missed it though as my SIL left her children on numerouse occasions and it makes me very angry at times when i think of just how damaged her children are now.

nutcracker · 18/10/2006 22:38

Did they say why she died ?? I keep thinking i missed it, but i don't think they said did they ?

First family I thought were great, she was such a confident girl and i think that was due to his great attitude.
Second family made me sad cos it reminded me of my parents divorce and I felt so sorry for the kids. Did want to shake the parents a bit too, especially her.
Third family, was just so sad and I felt so awful for the little boy.

nutcracker · 18/10/2006 22:39

You wouldn't have liked the mum from the second family then Batymuma, cos she was basically a cow who's only thought was for herself.

hermykne · 18/10/2006 22:40

terribly sad for family 3, i missed the others.
oh god just heartbreaking,

robinpud · 18/10/2006 22:40

It just said birth complications in the tv guide. What a beautifully filmed documentary though. Shame that the lovely unobtrusive style didn't allow an update as nutcracker said. Makes me wonder if dh would have coped with any of the scenarios...would I?

turquoise · 18/10/2006 22:41

I felt especially for the grandmother in the last family. Lost her daughter, bonding with Elvis, fearing for him so much - she was amazing.

DelGhoul · 18/10/2006 22:41

I missed this, is it repeated does anyone know?

Gem13 · 18/10/2006 22:41

No, they didn't say how she died - presumably something really rare. When the father talked about the anniversary of her death, all I could think was that it was his son's first birthday.

nutcracker · 18/10/2006 22:42

The 3rd dad just seemed so shell shocked still didn't he ? I mean I know he had every right to, but I just kept looking at him and thinking, you really are not alright are you.

hermykne · 18/10/2006 22:43

oh gem you're right, oh thats just so tragic. and a gorgeus child too

Piffle · 18/10/2006 22:44

Really well done tv programme, very human.
I was so relieved that Piers got to grips with his darling little lad in the end -was really worried when his dd was pinching and pulling and punching and sitting on the 6mth old and he dismissed it as usual
I think much of that 1st year passed him in a daze, then he set himself a target and man like stuck to it. Gorgeous children, so sad about his wife.

the 2nd couple were a good example of how not to break up IMO - felt very sorry for that dad though, I think underneath insecure gruff exterior he is an extremely decent chap.
as for his wife, crikey nora...
The first dad, had a very outspoken and confident daughter, which is to his credit, I do hope by now he has got a little life outside, with the carers, has a lot to offer IMHO

spub · 18/10/2006 22:56

Truly moving telly.
Kept looking at my 4month old baby boy and just feeling so sad for litle william/elvis. You don't often imagine death due to childbirth these days and it was all so raw and devestating for the family.
All of those men were doing a great job under such sad circumstances.So hope their kids will all be okay.Don't think any of them will want for love.
One of those programmes that makes you realise how bloody lucky you are.

lazycow · 18/10/2006 23:00

Beautifully made documentary and I thought all the men were fantastic. It made me a bit sad though that society is arranged so that it took such a momentous event for most of these men to be able to truly express their love for their children. Often we as women sort of stand in the way a bit of that (not deliberately obviously).

My BIL did a fantastic job when my sister died and he was left with a 6 year old and a 4 year old yet many people thought he'd never do it. He was a typical Italian male who took on the work role and did nothing around the home. I know that he would not have had such a close relationship with his children if my sister had lived, so tragic as her death was and is (my niece is now 14 and misses her mum more than ever) something good did come out of it. I got through a lot of hankies

mollymay · 18/10/2006 23:10

does anyone know if this will be repeated as I feel I've missed a really good programme?

hermykne · 19/10/2006 08:13

lazycow thats so sad for your bil and you, i am so sorry.
i slept terrible last night and kept thinkning about piers and his children.

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