Marriage Moats-Bob and Wendy
Published: Tue, 09/06/11
| Marriage Moats | Caring for Marriage | |||
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 Who
would have predicted the popularity of a show for kids where the main
character pours cement? Not me, certainly, although I have never been
known for my marketing finesse.
It could have long term effects, though. I wonder if today's Bob the Builder groupies
will be tomorrow's home renovation mavens. Think about it. Bob and
Wendy star in the only show for children whose plot line is completely
based on accomplishing routine domestic goals. Children voluntarily
memorize entire episodes about the correct installation of drywall. They
sing a ditty about having a positive attitude when tackling a leaky
sink.
What an incredible way to educate future homeowners. They will
certainly be better prepared than I was. When we bought our first home
for $30,000 in 1981 we did attempt a few improvements. I am certain the
subsequent owner ripped them out without blinking. Maybe he took a
picture first to send into a Lowe's contest for Worst Amateur of the
Year. We tried to create a booth effect in the dining room with a padded
seat and mirrored walls. The word tacky would be a euphemism.
What would happen if there was a show about how relationships are
built? Instead of the sinister billboard I saw about the tv series Revenge,
or a script highlighting the latest techniques for demolishing a city
block, we could choose to bring to the silver screen those qualities
that make a marriage whole. People can learn how to apply stucco,
apparently even a preschooler. How much harder could it be to create a
cartoon where husbands and wives talk to each other, make mistakes,
forgive?
I personally could supply the material for the entire first season, which as I recall only lasts three weeks anyway.
Herbie the Hubby Learns How to Listen- Herbie
is flustered when his wife Wanda loses her keys, spills spaghetti sauce
all over her phone and forgets her PIN when she needs to withdraw money
to pay the babysitter. He tries valiantly to find the keys with the
kids' metal detector and guess her PIN from the pet names they had when
they were dating. Finally he realizes that all Wanda needed was for him
to listen. They kiss and the dog brings them the keys and the phone
which he has successfully licked clean. Wanda Wifey Can Appreciate her Husband while Multitasking-
Herbie has a rough day at work, and Wanda forgets to check in with his
needs before handing him a Honey Do list as long as her arm. He slogs
through the first two items before he gets angry about the kids using
his electric drill for a ray gun. Wanda sees the cover of Caring for
Marriage magazine on the table and remembers the article about
appreciations. She tells Herbie fifteen things she appreciates about him
and his biceps triple in size. He blazes through the list and they have
time to go out for dinner, since Grandma came over for a surprise visit
and offered to watch the kids.
Kindness Holds Your House Up Better than Aluminum Siding- Wanda and Herbie fall for a salesman who
convinces them to replace their siding, which is only two years old.
They fight about the color and the contrasting trim, until Wanda
remembers the workshop she took at the last Marriage Conference about
Communication. They go out for brunch to talk about it, practice
reflective listening, and realize they would rather spend the money on
their upcoming anniversary. The salesman rips up the contract because he sees them dancing to his favorite tune, I Can't Help Falling in Love with You.
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