Busy day today, but keep an eye open in the next day or two for a reply with some suggestions and, if I can, a trailer or two or three so you can taste test.
With a little luck maybe I’ll hit on a surprise for you. Always happy to try and help out another viewer. ;-)
Stories like this really reinforce that when this comic isn’t disappearing up its own dank cavities….the internet encourages loud mouths…blah blah blah blah blah blah
Well, you’re certainly a shining example of the encouraging loudmouths part.
But you’re really trying too hard. You’re teetering right on the edge of going from laughable into just sad and pathetic.
From my perspective, this isn’t about sketchy gender expectations in this case. It’s, well, not being a killjoy.
Bernice is an adult, on top of which she fancies herself as being significantly more intelligent, perceptive and empathetic than most people, given her behavior and career choice.
Yet she can’t find, or isn’t willing to find, it within herself, to even try to engage with a small child in even a superficially pleasant manner.
You don’t have to be a “kid person” to put a smile on your face and a little sociable syrup in your voice king enough to distract a kid with a favorite video, some paper and crayons or distract them playing with a pet they like.
A blank faced “No” when approached or a sour faced, crossed arms attitude while ‘playing’ is just passive aggressive hostility.
And kids pick up on that.
Want a kid to end up telling people, ‘I don’t think auntie Bernie likes me’ and feeling confused and possibly a little bad about themselves?
Mission accomplished.
Especially with a kid already trying to cope with having a father that dumps you off on other people on the regular like you’re cramping his style.
And, no ’it’s not your kid’ . And horror of horrors, she’s less than a little angel.
She’s still just a little kid. Try and remember what that’s like. Make an effort.
At the bare minimum, try not to act like a brat yourself.
As in ‘All anime is terrible’ or ‘There is no such thing as bad pizza’?