Bluey

[WolfofWords]

I am just about done watching season one of Bluey and a lot of moments from the show have resonated with me. The show continues to make me think about my life now and my life as a child. A good all-ages show should be able to spark feelings in everybody and that is true of Bluey. I really love the show and I have started to treat it as a pick-me-up show. Here are five episodes from the first season that really hit me hard.


Wagon Ride

In this episode, Bandit takes his daughters on a wagon ride to the monkey bars early in the morning. As they travel, they keep meeting adults that Bandit knows and Bluey is frustrated that he stops to talk to them. She gets impatient and angry that she has to delay her gratification while her sister Bingo happily distracts herself. This is something that I definitely have done a lot in my life. I always had anxiety (just now really coming to grips with it) so stopping out in the open made me feel exposed. My folks would have somebody to talk to but I would have nothing to do and that made me feel even more anxious. I also have a problem with plans changing because plans mean that I do not have to worry about what I am doing. I can focus on the plan and prepare. I really felt for Bluey trying to learn how to be patient. It can be hard to be patient and calm when anxiety hits.




Grannies

In this episode, Bluey and Bingo pretend to be senile grannies in order to pester their parents who are busy doing chores. Bingo keeps stopping to dance which is not something grannies due according to Bluey. The two fight and Bingo quits the game. Bluey struggles with whether she wants to be right or wants to keep playing the game. This one hit me because I always wanted to play by the rules. When people improv during a game, it would put me on the spot. I played pretend a lot with my friends growing up but it was surprisingly structured. While it is not a direct comparison, Bingo’s constant dancing reminds me of my youngest brother growing up. My brother has Tourette's Syndrome and whatever we were doing would often be interrupted by a flurry of sudden motion.



Bumpy and the Wise Old Wolfhound

In this episode, Bingo is stuck in the hospital with his mother getting tests for an unnamed medical condition. Bandit, Bluey, and more family and friends band together to make a short film to cheer Bingo up. I feel this one because I was often sick as a child. While I was never in the hospital for extended stays, I definitely frequented hospitals and doctors' offices for a lot of tests. When I went to summer camp, I had to go and puff on an inhaler. I was out of breath when I tried sports. It sucked. When I had surgery in fifth grade, I definitely felt like Bingo as I was stuck in the hospital away from my friends. Doctors eventually figured out what was wrong with me and I got it fixed but it was a long road.



Hide and Seek

In this episode, Bluey wants to play hide and seek with her family but is reminded that she gets easily distracted. Bluey promises to concentrate on the game but still gets distracted until she remembers what she was doing. I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder when I was in first grade as I would often zone out or otherwise get distracted. The diagnosis has since changed to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder but it remains the same. Like Bluey, I can be distracted and derailed from what I was doing. Sometimes I have to try really hard to concentrate on one thing. It is often easier to concentrate on multiple things at once. In this episode, Bluey learns some coping mechanisms and so have I.




Neighbors

In this episode, Bluey decides to build a house out of pillows. One by one, her family members build houses next to hers and Bluey learns how to deal with neighbors who get on your nerves. In the end, her mother teaches that you can put up with a lot but eventually, you may have to ask nicely for them to stop. This meant a lot to me because I have had a problem with neighbors for a long time. I have never fought with them but I have been annoyed by them or felt slighted by them. I used to seethe quietly about it as Bluey did in this episode because my anxiety would not let me talk to them about it. Using my words instead of bottling them up until I explode is something that I still struggle with but I am working on a lot of things.