The Middle

 

             Every Wednesday night the hit sitcom The Middle airs on ABC. The Middle is a show that focuses on the Heck's an average family in Indianapolis who has hard times coming up with money for Christmas or can't afford to renovate their house which are problems that everyday family including mine faces.

 

             Many hit shows now are about rich families, and it doesn't apply to the average kid, and many of these shows are actually on Disney Channel including the show Jessie. Jessie although she does go through average problems is about a live in nanny who works for famous director by watching their kids in their penthouse in New York City. Another one called Suite Life of Zack and Cody where two twins grow up in a hotel, because their mom in a singer and when that show was over Suite Life on Deck emerged where those same twins lived on a cruise ship. 

 

             On the other side the recent episode that I watched was of course a Christmas episode, because it is only a few days from Christmas. In this episode the mom Frankie played by Patricia Heaton is going to have a minimal Christmas meaning no crazy decorations, or cookies, because she feels like she is the only one that contributes, and pays attention. Many families including mine have this same struggle being that one or a couple family members contribute while others don't, making this show really relatable to the average family.

 

             So what do these shows about well off families show kids. Growing up watching shows such as Hannah Montana, Suite Life of Zack and Cody I had false expectations. I expected that things would just happen to me such as I would become a famous singer, or happen to walk down the street, and picked up as a nanny for famous directors, or that my dad would be picked up to be a cook for the President where we would go stay, and live in the White House. Okay maybe that is a little extreme, but I did feel that things would just happen. The Middle however made me realize it's okay to be average, and to have your sink break down, or many other problems, and that in the end all that really matters is family.