Family hostilities have always attracted attention because the family is universal, and almost everyone knows what it’s like to experience family tensions. Not for nothing has the mother-in-law joke long been a stock in trade, or the figure of the heartless stepmother appear in fables like ‘Cinderella’.
Unsurprisingly, then, the saga of Brooklyn Beckham, first-born of mega-celebrities David and Victoria, drew global interest, accumulating millions of ‘hits’ on social media.
Views
The lad, aged 26, and married to a wife much richer than the Beckhams (widely noted) lambasted his parents, and especially his mother, for “controlling” him, using his name and image for the promotion of their “brand”, and ruining his wedding day by making it about themselves.
The general view seemed to be that Brooklyn is a spoilt, over-privileged brat who doesn’t appreciate what his parents have done for him”
Victoria, he posted, danced “inappropriately” at the wedding party. So he was cutting off contact with Mum and Dad, and separating himself from the
Beckham family.
The general view seemed to be that Brooklyn is a spoilt, over-privileged brat who doesn’t appreciate what his parents have done for him – striving to support his various career endeavours in modelling, photography and cooking.
His mother has now made it known that she considers Brooklyn to be “controlled” by his wife, Nicola Peltz.
Yes, a classic family story, touching great dynasties and modest kinship group alike. Who’s in “control” is a narrative thread running through so many family stories.
Cleaving
Yet, if it comes to siding with his wife against his parents, it could be claimed that Christian (and Jewish) theology might endorse Brooklyn’s viewpoint. For it clearly states in the Book of Genesis (2:24) that “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined [cleave] to his wife, and they shall be of one flesh”. This is echoed in the Gospel of Matthew (19:6).
Brooklyn has certainly “cleaved” to his spouse, although admittedly Scripture doesn’t suggest all this be carried out in the public realm.
Social media has emboldened this move among a younger generation who can’t navigate difficult relationships”
It is quite upsetting, however, to learn that an increasing number of young adults are choosing to cut off contact with their families – TikTok and Instagram are apparently “flooded” with videos of young people claiming their families are “toxic”, and they need the “emotional safety” of estrangement.
Social media has emboldened this move among a younger generation who can’t navigate difficult relationships, according to a London-based family therapist, Ayo Adesioye.
Influence
It used to be said that “blood is thicker than water”, but maybe that no longer holds sway. Psychologists say that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, have also had an influence on the estrangement trend.
Christian theology certainly underlines the spousal link, but the Ten Commandments also enjoins us to “Honour thy father and thy mother.”
***
St Paul pointed out the supportive advantages of a marriage partnership. I see the social duty of a spouse as akin to that of a constitutional monarch: to encourage, to counsel and to warn.
Surely Melania Trump, America’s First Lady, should occasionally take her husband aside and say, “Cop yourself on, honey, and quit saying some of these crazy things!” But does she?
There’s a documentary film about Mrs Trump just coming out – “Melania” – said to be very slick and professional. Melania herself has taken a close interest in the details of production, lighting and edits. As a former model, she might have some expertise on the optics, but that could be a bit superficial next to issues like threatening Greenland and not reining in the appalling excesses of ICE.
Melania has conducted herself with a certain amount of dignity, and supported admirable charitable work for children (and personally written to Putin about the child victims in Ukraine). But I suspect that while some wives may give robust advice to their spouse, it is less usual when a wife is more than twenty younger, as Melania is.
For the strong meat of forthright counsel, an old wife is required.
***
If Andy Burnham, successful Mayor of Greater Manchester, eventually becomes leader of the British Labour Party, or even Prime Minister, he will be the first cradle Catholic to take up the role.
Not that he is especially pious: he has said that the three guiding lodestars of his life were “Everton Football Club, the Labour Party and the Catholic Church”, adding “in that order”.
But he has also said that “Catholic social teaching underpins all my politics” and that studying the catechism at his two Catholic schools convinced him “it is powerful and strong and right.” (His brother Nick is principal of Cardinal Newman College in Preston, that Lancashire town which traditionally bore the tag, “poor, proud and Papist”).
Andy’s present chances have been temporarily blocked by Keir Starmer, but he remains an ongoing favourite for the top job.
By the way, I wonder how many Irish political leaders would ascribe their political thinking to Catholic social teaching?
.
Maybe surprisingly, Christian theology would back Brooklyn…
Family hostilities have always attracted attention because the family is universal, and almost everyone knows what it’s like to experience family tensions. Not for nothing has the mother-in-law joke long been a stock in trade, or the figure of the heartless stepmother appear in fables like ‘Cinderella’.
Unsurprisingly, then, the saga of Brooklyn Beckham, first-born of mega-celebrities David and Victoria, drew global interest, accumulating millions of ‘hits’ on social media.
Views
The lad, aged 26, and married to a wife much richer than the Beckhams (widely noted) lambasted his parents, and especially his mother, for “controlling” him, using his name and image for the promotion of their “brand”, and ruining his wedding day by making it about themselves.
Victoria, he posted, danced “inappropriately” at the wedding party. So he was cutting off contact with Mum and Dad, and separating himself from the
Beckham family.
The general view seemed to be that Brooklyn is a spoilt, over-privileged brat who doesn’t appreciate what his parents have done for him – striving to support his various career endeavours in modelling, photography and cooking.
His mother has now made it known that she considers Brooklyn to be “controlled” by his wife, Nicola Peltz.
Yes, a classic family story, touching great dynasties and modest kinship group alike. Who’s in “control” is a narrative thread running through so many family stories.
Cleaving
Yet, if it comes to siding with his wife against his parents, it could be claimed that Christian (and Jewish) theology might endorse Brooklyn’s viewpoint. For it clearly states in the Book of Genesis (2:24) that “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined [cleave] to his wife, and they shall be of one flesh”. This is echoed in the Gospel of Matthew (19:6).
Brooklyn has certainly “cleaved” to his spouse, although admittedly Scripture doesn’t suggest all this be carried out in the public realm.
It is quite upsetting, however, to learn that an increasing number of young adults are choosing to cut off contact with their families – TikTok and Instagram are apparently “flooded” with videos of young people claiming their families are “toxic”, and they need the “emotional safety” of estrangement.
Social media has emboldened this move among a younger generation who can’t navigate difficult relationships, according to a London-based family therapist, Ayo Adesioye.
Influence
It used to be said that “blood is thicker than water”, but maybe that no longer holds sway. Psychologists say that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, have also had an influence on the estrangement trend.
Christian theology certainly underlines the spousal link, but the Ten Commandments also enjoins us to “Honour thy father and thy mother.”
***
St Paul pointed out the supportive advantages of a marriage partnership. I see the social duty of a spouse as akin to that of a constitutional monarch: to encourage, to counsel and to warn.
Surely Melania Trump, America’s First Lady, should occasionally take her husband aside and say, “Cop yourself on, honey, and quit saying some of these crazy things!” But does she?
There’s a documentary film about Mrs Trump just coming out – “Melania” – said to be very slick and professional. Melania herself has taken a close interest in the details of production, lighting and edits. As a former model, she might have some expertise on the optics, but that could be a bit superficial next to issues like threatening Greenland and not reining in the appalling excesses of ICE.
Melania has conducted herself with a certain amount of dignity, and supported admirable charitable work for children (and personally written to Putin about the child victims in Ukraine). But I suspect that while some wives may give robust advice to their spouse, it is less usual when a wife is more than twenty younger, as Melania is.
For the strong meat of forthright counsel, an old wife is required.
***
If Andy Burnham, successful Mayor of Greater Manchester, eventually becomes leader of the British Labour Party, or even Prime Minister, he will be the first cradle Catholic to take up the role.
Not that he is especially pious: he has said that the three guiding lodestars of his life were “Everton Football Club, the Labour Party and the Catholic Church”, adding “in that order”.
But he has also said that “Catholic social teaching underpins all my politics” and that studying the catechism at his two Catholic schools convinced him “it is powerful and strong and right.” (His brother Nick is principal of Cardinal Newman College in Preston, that Lancashire town which traditionally bore the tag, “poor, proud and Papist”).
Andy’s present chances have been temporarily blocked by Keir Starmer, but he remains an ongoing favourite for the top job.
By the way, I wonder how many Irish political leaders would ascribe their political thinking to Catholic social teaching?
.
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