In Tuesday's episode of Freeform’s The Fosters titled “Dirty Laundry,” the family led by married lesbian moms and comprised of multi-ethnic children – biological, adopted and foster – takes permissive liberal parenting to a new level. Am I the only mom today that thinks allowing a 16 year old son and his girlfriend to have sex in his bedroom is crossing a bridge too far?
Poor Lena (Sherri Saum) is simply overwhelmed with everyday life now that Stef (Teri Polo) has longer working hours and away from home so much. Lena is in charge of all the kids and running the house while trying to hang on to her job by doing paperwork at home. She is in the midst of a huge pity party as she puts out all the drama brought on by all the teenagers in the house. In particular: Jesus (Noah Centineo) and his overwhelming desire to have sex with girlfriend Emma (Amanda Leighton).
You may remember that Jesus is recovering from a traumatic head injury and does not yet know that Emma was pregnant with his baby but decided to have an abortion without telling him. She questions if his doctor thinks having sex at this point in his recovery is a wise idea. So here’s the kicker: he asks Lena if it’s ok for him to have sex – medically speaking. She is surprised and he asks her to call his doctor about it. She agrees. What? A guy thinks he’s mature enough to have sex but not to call his own doctor and talk to him about it? Lena is too busy trying to be the cool mom to act as though Jesus has lost him mind.
After the call is placed, Lena sits down with the two teens for the most awkward conversation imaginable. Lena tells Jesus that the doctor is ok with it as long as some restrictions are put forth – like he is to be in a supine position so that his body exerts less stress. Jesus, not the sharpest guy in the room, is puzzled by this word so Emma explains it to him. When he asks if they can have sex in his room, Lena agrees after saying she was “neither encouraging nor condoning” it and they must use protection. I may have shouted at the television at this point. No concern was mentioned about younger kids in the house or privacy boundaries, just sure, go ahead and she’ll even dispense with the open bedroom door policy while they are in there. Unreal.
The irony was once the two decided to test out the new rules, Jesus experiences performance issues. He blamed the medications he’s on for it once he read that impotency is a side effect of one of his pills.
What? Yes. Jesus can read again! His eyes now focus properly with the help of his new glasses. How clever of the liberal writers to work that moment into such a crazy storyline.
On the up side of this madness – Stef did voice her disapproval to Lena as they discussed it. Unfortunately, Lena is unable to be a mom that says no to her kids. The lamest excuse for her approval was that she didn’t want the teens to have sex in a car – responsible sex involves a comfortable place.
You can’t make this stuff up, except in Hollywood. It is hard to believe that Freeform is the former ABC Family network and this show is broadcast in the earliest prime time hour. There is nothing traditional or family friendly for younger audiences with this show.
