Miranda Was the WORST Mother Ever!
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Ashaod43 — 10 years ago(October 24, 2015 09:54 AM)
They didn't write her part too well. I hate her so much in this that it's hard to watch. She overblows everything it seems and is so stuffy that I don't understand how much time mrs doubtfire actually wants to spends with her. It's not like he is trying to patch up their marriage.
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scottsteaux63-735-780576 — 10 years ago(February 11, 2016 07:40 PM)
They didn't write her part too well.
I think that sums it up pretty well. Miranda is such an insufferable, tight-assed bitch that she ruined the movie for me, and I normally LOVE Sally Field. I suppose it is a tribute to Field's talent that she played the role as written but the WHY is never addressed. She's an AWFUL character and an indifferent mother at best, yet letting her husband, who dotes on the kids, stay home and take care of them is apparently not good enough for her.
Still, if she did not want to hire a housekeeper there would have been no movie, I guess lol.
Oh God. There's nothing more inconvenient than an old queen with a head cold! -
ToxicShockTaco — 10 years ago(November 15, 2015 08:34 AM)
I agree. I don't think she trusted Daniel enough though. She certainly didn't while they were married. Daniel did not have a steady income, so Miranda had to work extra in order to maintain their lifestyle. Well, new flash Miranda: divorce decreases your income even more, especially with 3 children and an ex unable to provide sufficient child support. If they (married or divorced) were having money troubles, you could try maybe NOT living in a huge house in downtown San Francisco! They could get a lot of $$$ for it and then move to a different area.
Not only was she a bad mother, but she was also a bad person. I absolutely hated the court scene where she did not stand up to the judge about his ruling Daniel as an unfit father. Later, Daniel brings this up in an argument, and Miranda excuses her behavior by saying "you hurt me too". Really? So that's your justification for deliberately keeping his kids from him? She clearly did not consider her children's feelings, and ignored the many times in which they requested their father. "I miss dad", "me too", "me most". Granted that was not said in Miranda's presence, but I'm sure they verbalized it elsewhere to her. Miranda acted like Daniel did all these awful things, but I don't recall Daniel ever speaking to/about Miranda like she did to him. All the "horrible things we said to each other" - really Miranda?
I never realized how unlikabe Miranda's character was until I grew up lol I still love this movie, but those two things really frustrated me. -
highpriestess32 — 10 years ago(November 16, 2015 11:54 AM)
Very well written post and I agree with everything you wrote! I also love the film but the more I watch it the more I realise just how unlikeable Miranda is! She is so mechanical about many things. She is completely married to her job and doesn't seem to care who looks after her children so long as it isn't Daniel (initially). She came good in the end and came to her senses but not before time!
"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them" -
laurieann74 — 10 years ago(January 23, 2016 09:44 AM)
I couldn't stand the way Miranda acted towards her ex. Do you know how many kids wish they had their dads in their lives? She purposely kept him away, simply because she thought he was immature, then she quickly starts dating. I thought her just an uptight jerk. Daniel didn't need to be married to some tw*t like that.
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preachcaleb — 10 years ago(January 26, 2016 07:06 AM)
then she quickly starts dating.
So? That's the beauty of divorce. You can start dating any time.
I thought her just an uptight jerk.
I thought Daniel was irresponsible and a bad husband.
Let's be bad guys. -
highpriestess32 — 10 years ago(January 29, 2016 07:33 AM)
Of course you can date but Miranda showed no regard for her childrens' emotional welfare by bringing her new squeeze home so soon.
Daniel was not irresponsible when it came to his kids. He adored them and it was clear that they felt the same. Those kids ADORED their father. He was fun and attentive. Miranda was anally retentive - nice home but zero input.
"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them" -
preachcaleb — 10 years ago(January 29, 2016 07:55 AM)
The children were fine with Stu; they really liked him. Doubtful Miranda would keep someone around if she didn't think it'd be good for her children. Heck, that's part of why she divorced Daniel. It was causing huge problems at home that would affect the kids.
Daniel was not irresponsible when it came to his kids.
Daniel blatantly went against their mother's wishes when it came to Chris' birthday party. He was under punishment, and Daniel not only undermined what Miranda had said (a big no-no as it pits kids against parents and parents against parents in the kids' eyes), but he made it clear they would lie about it to Miranda. He also walked out on his job with no plan to secure another. Not exactly the most responsible things for a parent to do.
I don't doubt he loved and adored his children, but that's not all there is to being a responsible parent.
Miranda was anally retentive - nice home but zero input.
Not at all. In fact, she was even going to bring a cake to show she wasn't completely heartless about Chris's birthday.
Let's be bad guys. -
highpriestess32 — 10 years ago(January 29, 2016 08:10 AM)
He also walked out on his job with no plan to secure another. Not exactly the most responsible things for a parent to do.
He left his job because he felt the cartoon he was narrating was morally irresponsible. He didn't really need to work. Miranda was earning big Bucks. He was the one who his children gravitated towards because he was FUN in spite of his lifting of the party ban (which I admit was wrong because parents need to decide jointly on a course of action and stick to it).
Miranda was heartless. When Daniel left his job he picked up with the kids after school and said they had FOUR hours before she got home which had to make it what? Seven PM? As it turned out she ruined the (it's already too late), party and then proceeded to spread her utter self-serving misery by telling her husband it was OVER on her son's birthday. Really? B!tch of a heartless, vapid soul.
"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them" -
highpriestess32 — 10 years ago(January 29, 2016 08:22 AM)
In addition to the above reply I made, Miranda could have finished early intentionally to spend time with her son. Instead she was showing wallpaper samples to God knows who because she deemed that more important.
Had Daniel had a full time "acting" career then those children would have been LONELY and PINING for one or both parents.
A cake and a few gifts is NOT what a kid wants on his birthday and her denying of him any fun because he got bad grades is a terrible thing to do and emotionally damaging. By all means ground him on other days but his Birthday? No way.
"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them" -
Housefan2 — 10 years ago(February 09, 2016 03:16 PM)
In addition to the above reply I made, Miranda could have finished early intentionally to spend time with her son.
She did. Remember: Miranda! What's up? You're home early, girlfriend. We're having a birthday in the house.
Despite the fact that Chris wasn't allowed to have a birthday party because of his bad report card, Miranda still stopped and picked up a cake and presents. While clearly upset with Chris because he's capable of making better grades (as we see later), she wasn't going to completely ignore his birthday.
Instead she was showing wallpaper samples to God knows who because she deemed that more important.
Yes. How horrible. She did her job. What a reprehensible b!tch.
Had Daniel had a full time "acting" career then those children would have been LONELY and PINING for one or both parents.
Most kids have a home with two workings parents. They wouldn't be alone. Lots of kids have nannys or attend daycare or a latchkey program after school.
A cake and a few gifts is NOT what a kid wants on his birthday and her denying of him any fun because he got bad grades is a terrible thing to do and emotionally damaging.
Yes, a child not having a birthday party will scar him for life.
By all means ground him on other days but his Birthday? No way.
He was grounded. From having a birthday party. A punishment isn't supposed to be fun, you do know that right? That's why it's called punishment.
I didn't have problems with Miranda until Daniel offered to have the kids after school until she's off work (and the kids enthusiastically respond) and she brushes it off and ultimately hires a nanny. At that point, she's putting her own pain that comes with a divorce over the best interests of her kids.
By the end, Miranda and Daniel have put aside their flaws and become better parents. Daniel is a better disciplinarian of the kids and holds down stable and gainful employment while Miranda acknowledges how important Daniel is to the children even if she is still hurt by the past.
Lizzie
To love another person is to see the face of God! - Les Miserables -
breno_bacci — 10 years ago(February 11, 2016 11:31 AM)
You've made good points. I don't agree with almost all of them, but I've gotta give it to you, they are good points.
As I see it this topic has pitted two kinds of people against each other. In general terms, people that believe you should be responsible and do what everybody else is doing, when it comes to having a job, family, parenting, etc.; and people that chose more "alternative", unorthodox lifestyles. The latter are often seem as irresponsible, because they go all maverick, living their lives the way they think it's better. No steady job, not giving a damn about grades on an educational system which itself is immensely flawed, no ridiculous formulae when it comes to parenting, no "no-nos", no merciless sticking to conceptually-flawed punishments.
Needless to say, I'm with highpriestess on this one. Miranda was a bitch. So much so, it made me like Sally Field a bit less. Now I tend to think she's just as annoying as Miranda is. What a terrible person, and a terrible mother. She's lucky she has great kids, yet she still makes them and her husband suffer unnecessarily in the name of what - a big stupid career? I don't know what was Columbus' angle with this one, but it sure made me think how screwed we all are that people like Miranda do exist by the millions in today's society.
Let';s all agree to keep signatures apart from text body?
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highpriestess32 — 10 years ago(February 12, 2016 01:00 PM)
Miranda did NOT come home early intentionally. She was telephoned by her elderly neighbour who complained about the petting zoo. Hence Daniel mentioned she was HOME EARLY.
Oh yes, nannies, that's right, parents give birth to supposedly the most important thing in their lives, a child, but want little or no actual input into it's upbringing. I have nothing against a woman having a career or a man but when it is chosen over bringing up their children then I beg the question as to why they procreate in the first damn place. Is it some sort of investment towards their old age? What else could it be for when both parents leave the house at 6/7 in the morning and don't get home until 7 PM?
I wonder if SHE had anything to do with her son performing badly at school? How much influence and encouragement did Miranda truly have? She knew Daniel was a bit of a clown who was unlikely to enforce stringent homework regimes and that's why his kids enjoyed spending time with their fun father. She can't really expect him to be academically advanced if he wasn't so inclined unless she spent time taking an interest - a direct interest, quality time an a vested interest in his studies. In a nutshell, she would have been better having a career
instead
of children.
His being denied of a Birthday party for bad grades could have indeed left some lasting negative memory. His mother barely seemed to have any quality time with her children and to then further exasperate this and add fuel to the fire by putting the Kaibosh on that also, I feel would not make him magically improve his grades.
You say most kids have a home with two working parents as though this makes it automatically right and to my mind and experience with others, it has sometimes marred emotional development and vital parent-child bonding.
"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them" -
Syn84 — 10 years ago(February 13, 2016 07:12 PM)
I wonder if SHE had anything to do with her son performing badly at school? How much influence and encouragement did Miranda truly have?
Well how much influence and encouragement did Chris receive from his father? You know, from the person that you're defending so much despite all of his screw-ups?
You have excuses for all of Daniel's bad behaviors. "I know that he's unemployed and irresponsible, but hey - he's a fun guy and that's all that matters. It doesn't matter that Miranda is the one who works and set rules so that her kids don't become irresponsible like Daniel is."
He left his job because he felt the cartoon he was narrating was morally irresponsible.
When you have wife & kids that you need to support - you don't leave work over "creative differences", especially if you don't have another job. You suck it up and do your work at least until you find another job.
He didn't really need to work. Miranda was earning big Bucks.
Seriously? So his only "responsibility" in life is to have fun with kids? And Miranda will work 16 hours per day and will clean up his mess every dya?When I die, I want to be buried face down. That way whoever doesn't like me can kiss my ass.
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highpriestess32 — 10 years ago(February 14, 2016 06:33 AM)
I don't always defend Daniel, he was irresponsible in some ways I have to agree. But I think he was himself very childlike which is an integral part of being a father who is in tune with his children's emotional needs, surely.
Fact is, Miranda was indeed making big Dollars and had a lovely home so they were not financially poorly off. With her lengthy and taxing (yet self-imposed), work schedule, she simply wasn't giving her children much in the way of her time and she wasn't meeting their emotional needs as much as she could have IMHO.
It is just fact that children can't be won over with a nice home and nice things if there is an absence of interaction which is precisely what Daniel was able to give them. As he said in court, he hadn't spent a day away from them in their entire lives
"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"