Parenting Tips from “Lost” S5 E8, “LaFleur”

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode, telling the story of what Sawyer's been up to since the Oceanic Six took off, gives us another example of how things can be going just fine (in your kids' world, in your own life, and so on), and then it's all upended in a moment. Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 9, "Namaste." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Whoever the "bodyguard of sadness" was, they did a terrible job with this episode, because every one of Jimmy's friends and family members is leaving him: temporarily, permanently, metaphorically. It all required a great deal of face acting from Jason Segel.Next week, we'll finish season 3 with episode 12, "And That's Our Time." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is the joy of putting items on hold. It's like ordering yourself a gift: It will arrive at some undetermined future date (surprise!), you'll get something you know you want, and it's completely free.Terri's random recommendation is a handy piece of technology that she recently discovered: Mirroring her iPhone to her new Apple laptop.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 in which we recalled those rare good mom moments.Next week's lineup:Shrinking S3 E10, "The Bodyguard of Sadness," on Tuesday, April 7Lost S5 E8, "LaFleur," on Wednesday, April 8Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 9Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This week, it's the tale of one John Locke, and how he journeys from the island to the North African desert, then to Los Angeles and finally back to the island, with a few side quests along the way. He's up, he's down; he's in a wheelchair, he's walking; he's dead, he's alive. It's a lot.Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 8, "LaFleur." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. This time, Jimmy's dad (played by Jeff Daniels) arrives to give all the bad dads of Lost a real run for their money. While he doesn't actually murder anyone, he does contribute to the demise of Jimmy's fledgling relationship with Sofi, and show us that he won't have a problem breaking Alice's heart. Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E10, "The Bodyguard of Sadness." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is the misleadingly titled Yes, Ma'am: The Secret Lives of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn. It's not, in fact, about the servants, but about the people they serve, and who cares about them?Terri's random recommendation is a rather lukewarm one, more of a curiosity than a gung-ho endorsement: the new Scrubs season, which brings back all the actors from the show's original run (2001-2010). Mentioned: thirtysomething, Once and Again.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 that asked whether oversharing is bad parenting.Next week's lineup:Shrinking S3 E9, "Daddy Issues," on Tuesday, March 31Lost S5 E7, "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham," on Wednesday, April 1Weekly roundup on Thursday, April 2Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. The Oceanic Six have (mostly) reassembled, and we (sorta) find out how they ended up on a plane together, flying back to the island. And we receive what might be the strongest piece of parenting wisdom the show has ever given us: "The results will be unpredictable."Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 6, "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property. Currently, that's Shrinking. Alas, Terri's fervent hope that Maya was simply lost in the crowd at Disneyland was dashed. That sad outcome was only one of several disappointments in this episode, but it did yield some parenting advice that everyone can (and should) follow. Mentioned: "Don't Be Suspicious" on Parks and Recreation.Next week, we'll continue with Shrinking S3 E9, "Daddy Issues." We'll be back tomorrow to discuss Lost.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is the first in a new kids' chapter book series. It's called You're a Winner, Gracie Wei, and the author is Kristen Mei Chase. This is another fun case of "Hey, I know that writer!"Terri's random recommendation is also a book, another in her series of Hollywood and Hollywood-adjacent memoirs: The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne. This one's more about Dunne's early life and family, vs. his acting career, but it was still worth a listen.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021 about how messy moms are good moms (that's our story and we're sticking to it).Next week's lineup:Shrinking S3 E8, "Depression Diet," on Tuesday, March 24Lost S5 E6, "316," on Wednesday, March 25Weekly roundup on Thursday, March 26Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Each Wednesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. In Los Angeles, Ben is still busy assembling his group of island departees, and Sun has to choose between her kid and her is-he-dead-or-alive husband. On the island, that husband is having a pretty bad day, and Charlotte learns the hard way that she should've listened to her mother.Next week, we'll continue with season 5, episode 5, "316." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.