It’s funny. When I watched the hit sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond in the late ’90s and early ’00s, little did I know at the time that I was actually watching my future self.
Back then — you know, mostly last century — I was neither married, nor was I a mom. When I watched the awards-season favorite, starring Ray Romano as the titular sportswriter dad and Patricia Heaton as his long-suffering wife, Debra, I was a happy-go-lucky, not-a-care-in-the-world (OK, exaggerating somewhat) childless semi-adult who just thought they were a funny couple who yelled a lot and had family that was constantly all up in their biz.
After I changed the channel, walked out of the room, or just averted my eyes, their struggles (and the hilarity that ensued) was just a chuckle-worthy memory that stayed behind in TV land. It wasn’t my life — those problems weren’t mine to solve.
Kids didn’t clean their room? Husband doesn’t listen? Sure, annoying, but is yelling really necessary, Debra?
Fast-forward to now, as the mother of a 14-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son, and I find myself relating to Debra in a whole new way. Now I’m joining her by raising my voice because, yes, everybody DID love Raymond! And that’s so not fair!
