less than ideal
If you’ve been reading my blog, or if you know me personally, you might know that I didn’t grow up with the “ideal family,” or one even close. My parents separated when I was only 3 years old, and I lost my dad just shy of my 10th birthday. My mom worked long, late-night hours to pay the bills, and my sister and I had to grow up and become independent way, way too young.
Maybe that’s why I always loved Full House.
When I was a kid, I thought that cartoons were “for kids,” and sitcoms (or any show with actors instead of animation) were “for adults.” That is, until I saw Full House for the first time. I’ve gone back and watched the show all the way through a few times in my life, usually as a comfort during hard times, and from the very first episode, I can draw parallels to my own life.
Danny Tanner, a single dad, has just lost his wife, Pamela. He has 3 young daughters, the youngest still a baby, who just lost their mom. Having no idea how to fill the role of mother in their lives and keep up with the pressures of parenthood alone, and facing his own grief and turmoil, he recruits the help of his brother-in-law, Uncle Jessie, and his best friend, Joey. On top of everything, he also has to teach Jessie and Joey to be responsible examples for his daughters.
Jessie, a young and (very) handsome man, suddenly has to alter his thrill-chasing, womanizing lifestyle to be an example to three young girls, and move into a pink bunny laden room to support his brother-in-law. He has also just lost his big sister and is managing his own grief. Meanwhile, Joey’s goofy and carefree personality brings levity to the situation and helps the kids adjust to their new life. Neither seem to have much experience with kids or babies, and they are forced to learn as they go.
Donna Joe (DJ), the oldest, and Stephanie, the middle child, are not only facing the loss of their mother, but a complete upheaval of life as they know it. DJ and Stephanie have to sacrifice their individual bedrooms and share so that Uncle Jessie can sleep in Stephanie’s old room. DJ takes this especially hard and moves herself into the garage. Robbed of their mother, they have to adjust to change and the arrival of two new paternal figures in their family home.
making the best of a bad situation
Together, they form a family, filling in each other’s gaps and supporting one another through a plethora of life’s challenges. The ideal family doesn’t always mean a traditional nuclear family – it can be made up of anyone who loves and supports each other. The bonds that Danny, Jessie, Joey, and the girls form highlight the strength of relationships that are built on necessity, support, trust, respect, and unconditional love.
As the show progresses, the family grows until the house has quite literally reached capacity! Jessie gets married and moves into the attic with his two twin boys; and DJ’s best friend, Kimmy (who it is heavily implied has a difficult home life) and her boyfriend, Steve, become regulars at the house as well.
In today’s society, the word ‘family’ has taken on new meanings. It’s not just about having a mom, dad, and 2.5 kids anymore. The modern family is made up of all kinds of individual situations, and that’s what makes them so special. Full House taught us that family can extend further than blood, ideals, or circumstance.
Families are any people who choose each other, love each other, and show up for one another.
unconditional support
Full House depicts the kind of unconditional love and support that everyone desires in a family. Throughout the many seasons of the show, the characters face various challenges, but their love for each other always prevails. They are each other’s pillars of strength, and they stick together through thick and thin.
It’s okay to admit that we can’t do everything alone. We all need people who have our backs or can tell us why we were wrong, and that is where family comes in. They uplift us when we’re down, share in our joy when we’re happy, and celebrate our wins as if they are their own. It’s a beautiful thing when you can count on your family, regardless of what life throws at you.
The essence of Full House and the ideal family is the commitment to always being there for each other. It’s the willingness to listen and offer a shoulder to lean on. It’s the comfort in confiding in each other without fear of judgment or rejection. Even when you’re wrong, family can guide you in the right direction without punishment. That’s what makes a family so special, whether traditional or not.
everywhere you look, there’s a heart; a hand to hold onto
Full House is more than just a feel-good sitcom; it’s a testament to the strength of family bonds. It teaches us that family can come in all shapes and sizes, and that love and support are what truly matter.
As a kid who didn’t have the unconditional support that I needed, it showed me that I could find that in the family I create and forge those bonds with others regardless of the family I was born into. That truly, everywhere I looked, there were others in the world willing to form connections of love and support. The show’s message resounds with me even today, and it is a reminder that when we have that, we can conquer all the challenges in our lives.
So let us cherish our families, whether biological, adopted, or chosen. Let us nurture those relationships, communicate openly, and make the effort to show that we care. In doing so, we strengthen the fabric of our lives and create a support system that can sustain us through any challenge. May we all strive to embody the ideals of Full House and the ideal family, and may we always surround ourselves with those who love us unconditionally.
-w.w.
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