Tag Archives: adoption

The Fosters

Title: The Fosters

Date: 2013

Media type: Television

Format: Episode

TV Season-Episode: Season 1, Episode 1

Rating: PG – Parental Guidance Suggested

Audience(s): High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Source: Netflix

Film/Episode Summary: The Fosters takes place in sunny California and follows a unique family led by the fearless mothers, Stef and Lena. They have been partners for 10 years and although they are not legally wed, they consider themselves married by heart. Through a previous marriage, Stef’s biological son Brendon became the first of many children in Lena and Stef’s family. Their next additions walked into their home as foster kids and never left. Mariana and Jesus, teenage twins were adopted five years prior to the start of the show. Even with three teenagers in the house, they yet again offer to accept a foster child into their home. Callie, the protagonist in this series, is a 16-year-old girl that had been placed in a juvenile detention center due to a complicated situation with her previous foster brother, who sexually abused her. The family soon discovers that Callie was not the only child in her last abusive foster family but in fact lived there with her biological younger brother, Jude. Together, Lena and Stef save Jude from the dangerous situation and invite him into their home. Eventually, the newly combined family grow close with one another and together they navigate the difficulties of the past and move forward towards a better future. Clip Start Time: 1:40-9:50

Clip Description: In this longer clip, Callie is released from juvy after experiencing some physical abuse from fellow inmates as well as from her last foster dad. This is where she first meets Lena, a mother of three with her partner Stef. Lena takes Callie home and introduces her to the family members as they arrive home. When Stef comes home, Callie is somewhat resistant to their relationship and appears to be questioning the family system. It is important to note here that Stef was unaware that Callie would be there because Stef couldn’t reach her on the phone earlier. Callie is distressed throughout the evening and Lena uses her soft words and tells her that they are on her side to get Callie to trust her. This almost works except Stef comes in right when Callie was going to share her story with Lena.

Additional Clip Start Time: 12:58

Additional Clip Description: This is the scene following the dinner when Callie arrives home. Lena and Stef are finally alone in their bedroom and have a chance to talk about the evening. Though they have many concerns about taking in Callie they use positive and loving language to keep their conversation levelheaded. They show love and affection and it really shows that they are great at communicating with one another.

Contributor: Rose Simon

This is Us

Title: This is Us

Date: 2016

Media type: Television

Format: Episode

TV Season-Episode: Season, Episode 1-4

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Audience(s): High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: This television show follow the lives of a couple, Rebecca and Jack, and their three children. Two of them, Kevin and Kate, are twins. They were triplets but one died in child birth. The third sibling, Kyle but later Randall, was adopted and is a child of color. We see how Rebecca and Jack raise the children and who they become as a result. The series shows us flashbacks of the past and tells the story in the present to have a better understanding of the family.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: I suggest discussion questions related to adopting a child of color, raising more than one child together, family communication, and how death of a family member impacts the family.

Places to view: Vudu, Hulu

Contributor: Linda Thao

Life as we Know It

Title: Life as we Know It

Date: 2010

Media Type: Film

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Audience(s): College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary:The movie follows Holly and Messer as they raise a little girl named Sophie. Sophie’s parents died when she was a few months old and they left Holly and Messer to care for her, but Sophie’s parents never told the pair that. As the film plays out, Holly and Messer figure out how to navigate parenthood while also being heavily invested in their careers.

Places to view: Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play, Itunes

Contributor: Krista Hamann