A grid post of Erin being a star performer needed to boost engagement, my eyes are rolling so much I look like a fruit machine.
a grid post dedicated to TT, detailing her singing solo success and how babs was so proud of the golden child that she wept *cringe* - yet ethan's parents evening was only mentioned as a way to introduce that boring reel about her fear of "teeny tiny" chairs. there was absolutely no mention of being proud of her ethan and the subjects he excels at. sure, the fact that he was given that level of privacy can only be a good thing,
but it must be hurt knowing that your sister's singing causes babs to declare her sheer pride to the world, yet ethan's talents at crafts and music - for example, when he plays the euphonium - the only reaction he ever receives is eye rolls and irritation! she is honestly such a
witch towards that little boy.
babs undoubtedly didn't mention any details about ethan's parents evening - not as a result of privacy, because if it has been TT, we would have been subjected to a long list of all her achievements and abilities - but because she simply wasn't listening to his teachers, and was too busy worrying she was going to break the chair she was sitting on and ensuring she took a photo of her chair, her concentration focused on working out how she could use a situation where she was forced to spend time with her son to her advantage. meanwhile, erin's singing provides content all by itself, so babs can spend her time actually focusing on erin.
and the fact that erin chose to sing a disney song was probably due to pressure from babs' - she will be mocked relentlessly when she arrives at high school with babs encouraging her to sing disney solos, poor kid. in contrast with babs' controlling #MOTHERKNOWSBEST hashtag, i do wonder if that song from tangled was chosen very specifically by erin as a sly dig at babs, including the hopeful lyrics "now that i'm older, mother might just let me go!"
although tbh, i don't think erin will have much luck in terms of any hope she may have that babs will reduce that controlling graspbover her life, until she reaches a point where she is forced tobactively push her away - although babs is so aggressively dominating, i do wonder if the preceding lyrics" I've got my mother's love, I shouldn't ask for more" reflect the attitude erin will grow up with towards her mother, as i imagine babs makes full use of guilt-tripping tactics when it suits her.