Now we all know the part where Sybil says that she hoped for gay sons, but what I don't understand is when she says she hoped for gay sons so they would never leave her. What exactly does that mean? Thad didn't live at home and he had a family of his own just like her daughters, so what is this crazy hag talking about?
It might've had something to do with the idea of the whole mother-in-law/daughter-in-law thing. A gay son wouldn't bring home anyone "threatening" to a mother. A daughter-in-law poses a threat in some families because men are going to try what they can to make their wives happy. An action that was always a role for the mother. But a mother knows she has to let go of her son so he can make the wife happy. A gay son's spouse wouldnt pose such a "threat". So she never has to worry about letting him go in that sense. If that makes sense.
I dont think she really meant it though, but i think it was just a humorous dig at that idea. Thats all
I thought she was joking when she said that.
Sybil was indeed joking, movieliker1. I do understand what she meant though. As MoobieLubber said, a daughter in law takes over the role that was previously the mother's-so at that point, the son "leaves" the mother. Sybil says that she was hoping that her sons wouldn't leave her, so the only way to ensure that would be if they didn't marry women.
What's that old saying? "A son's a son till he takes a wife. But a daughter's a daughter for life". Which is why Sybil isn't concerned about her daughters.
Meredith didn't get the joke, that's why she kept trying to ask her question. She was genuinely confused.
It was a joke premised on the idea that gay sons would not bring home a woman to challenge her supremecy. Which thinking about it cast her daughters as subservient drones. But anyway - just a little family in-joke. That's what I understood anyway.
shareI agree. A little family in-joke.
As a mother of a happily married gay son, I got it.
It may seem dumb to some, but I get it.
I'd like to think that I could love anyone that my son loves and NOT feel as though that person is taking my place in his heart..... man or woman.... I believe that I could, as long as that person is intent on making my son happy.
I already have my own place in his heart. His father and I have known, since the day he was born, that he would move on and make a life with someone else. That is how life is. I think that Sybil understood this. She was kidding around at that dinner table before it got serious.