A Parenting Lesson from Doctor Who

If you’ve known me for very long, than you know one of my guilty TV pleasures is Doctor Who. Now before you think “Oh no, SciFi!” and hit the back button on your browser, bear with me. I’ve learned a lot from Doctor Who about being a father, not the least of which is how to say, “No.”

What parent faced with the onslaught of their children’s tantrums hasn’t wanted to just give in? Well, the Doctor can help. Watch the attached clip and simply replace “Doctor” with “Daddy”, and imagine the obnoxious little trashcan robots (Daleks) are your kids, and that Rose (in red) is their Mommy.

Got it? The Doctor is Daddy, the Daleks are unruly kids and Rose is the Mommy. I’ve attached a modified script immediately after the video clip to show you what I mean. Now play the clip. Really… play it! In this context it’s really quite entertaining… and a great parenting role model on how to stand your ground:

So here’s the modified Transcript:

The Daddy is grim, looking at the three children flanking His wife.

CHILD #1
I will talk to the Daddy.

THE DADDY
Oh, will you? That’s nice. Hello!

He waves at them mockingly, his fake grin fading rapidly.

CHILD #1
Our stratagem nears completion. The plan is almost ready. You will not intervene.

THE DADDY
Oh, really? Why’s that then?

CHILD #1
We have your wife. You will obey or she will be exterminated.

His wife, shaking, looks up at the Daddy on the screen.

THE DADDY
No.

Everyone else jerks their heads in his direction. His wife stares, mouth slightly open. What’s he doing?

CHILD #1
(clearly not having anticipated this answer)
Explain yourself.

THE DADDY
I said ‘no’.

CHILD #1
What is the meaning of this negative?

THE DADDY
It means ‘no’.

CHILD #1
But she will be destroyed.

THE DADDY
(standing in his passion)
No! ‘Cause this is what I’m gonna do – I’m gonna rescue her.

His wife listens, the pride evident in her eyes. The others glance at him in awe.

THE DADDY (CONT’D)
(true hero, fiery)
I’m gonna save your mommy from the middle of you children, and then I’m gonna save the Earth, and then just to finish off, I’m gonna wipe every last STINKING diaper out of the sky!

CHILD #1
But you have no weapons! No defenses! No plan!

THE DADDY
(grinning)
Yeah. And doesn’t that scare you to death? Sweetheart?

THE MOMMY
(eagerly)
Yes, Daddy?

THE DADDY
I’m coming to get you.

Parenting Advice from Doctor Who?

See… you can learn something from SciFi other than how to best survive the impending zombie apocalypse. πŸ˜‰ I actually blogged about Doctor Who as a role model once before. So, what have you learned from the shows you watch? Doctor Who is my guilty TV pleasure. What’s yours?

Save

44 comments

2 pings

Skip to comment form

    • Brian@brianautismblog on at
    • Reply

    I wish that 90210 was still on (the original) and that they dealt with parenting. Maybe Brandon could knock up Donna, and they get married or something, and they could raise their kid through the years (because it would never ever be cancelled) and we could check in from time to time through the years.

    1. Um… that’s an interesting premise. I’ve no doubt there would be an audience for it, and you could head up the fan club. Did you ever see “The Up” films? It is a series of documentary films that have followed the lives of fourteen British children since 1964, when they were seven years old. They last checked in when they were 49. Later this year or early next we’ll get to see them at 55. Check it out.

  1. My guilty TV pleasure is pretty much anything on Bravo — especially the Housewives. All of their dysfunction makes me feel better I guess — at least I’m not that crazy! Yet…

    Love the post and your blog…funny how parenthood puts everything (even sci fi) in a whole new perspective

    1. People really seem to enjoy watching those show. Would I be right in saying that guys probably like reality shows like “The Housewives…” a bit less then girls? Thanks for your at least pretending my blog has a point, Jenn. πŸ˜‰ Parenting definitely does change one’s perspective on the world, you are right!

  2. Well done!!!! I understand very well how it relates. Doctor Who can teach all sorts of interesting life lessons and perspective πŸ™‚

    1. Thank you so much. I just came from your blog. Love your writing, “For a few minutes, I was in stonewashed, rolled and pegged jeans, in the middle of Aladdin’s Castle.” Brilliant. As for Doctor Who… hey, any excuse drag one of my guilty pleasures out into the sunshine for a bit. πŸ˜‰

  3. I can’t believe I just watched that. πŸ˜›

    1. LOL! Yes, it’s really just a big plot to get people to watch SciFi. Do you feel your brain melting already? The BBC and SiFi channels are paying me big bucks to convert you all.

  4. If you aren’t careful, she could get in your time machine and take off after other people’s moms.

    1. Hey, D. Thanks for dropping by! I’m not really a super huge SciFi person in general, but there are some shows I do enjoy like this one. It will be interesting to see if our 2 year old either hates or loves the genre, not that she sees anything but NickJr and PBS. πŸ˜‰

  5. Ah yes, LOVE Doctor Who! This is actually a quite entertaining parallel you have proposed! Only you my dear friend…

    1. Thanks Mitzi. Finally a woman who LIKES Doctor Who! πŸ™‚ I’m not sure why Doctor Who appeals to me (I really don’t much care for the aliens and such), but I guess it’s the relationships? As such I’ll be some women who think they’d not like it actually might if given the chance. I say I don’t like the monsters, but I did love the one named, “Blink”. The “weeping angels” were pretty darned scary indeed.

      1. Hey, I’m a woman and I like Doctor Who (and Torchwood), too! πŸ˜‰

        Blink was a fabulous episode, very scary! Are you a Torchwood fan as well? Started watching with season three (incredibly scary premise, especially for a parent!), and then started at the beginning. Looking forward to season four this summer!

        1. “Blink” by the now new show runner and lead writer is one of my absolute favorites! As we discussed on Twitter I do enjoy Torchwood, but def not for younger kids. Can’t wait for summer’s 4th season. Glad it got picked up. A pleasure to meet you! Have a great evening.

  6. I have never heard of Doctor Who but it was a great clip on how to stand your ground as a parent. Although, I don’t think I will watch the show. I perfer food shows instead…

    1. Holy cow… you’ve never heard of Doctor Who… not at all… not even the name? That’s okay. I’m sure there are far more things about which you are intimately acquainted of which I’ve heard nothing. πŸ™‚

  7. Well done! I was wondering how you would address the “wipe every last ___ out of the sky” part! My favorite TV show is Doc Martin (my husband I are watching the DVDs – ready to start season 5). I can’t say Doc Martin so far would be the best role model (athough he would be good at saying no – LOL). Bert could definitely provide some cute parenting advice, though.

    1. Well Deb, I thought of several way to reword the “wipe every last…” but though the better of most of them. I’ve never watched Doc Martin. Is that based on a character from the British film “Saving Grace”? I’ll have to check it out. Hope all is going well with you!

  8. Awesome! I always knew Dr Who was a purveyor of real life lessons!

    1. Hey Meg. Just saw your post topic at the end of your comment. I’m def going to come read that. Personally I can see some applications for the Kindle, but I LOVE books… they way they feel, smell, taste… okay maybe not taste. πŸ˜‰

    • Shelley (EvenAndy) on at
    • Reply

    Dr. Who, a role model:) I love your blog and I am now a follower (Mom Loop).

    1. Shelly… so nice to have you drop by from Mom Loop. That’s a great community. As a blogger you should check out the series of threads they just started on improving various aspects of your blog, including SEO. I’m so happy you like my blog. I’ll visit yours after I put the wee one to bed. Poor thing has the croup. πŸ™

  9. When I first clicked on the link my first instinct was, “Oh not this Doctor! (not a fan of this Doctor as I prefer the doctor that came after this one)” I can completely see how these pesky Daleks can be children. I am happily married but have three dogs rather than children at the moment. Dogs can act the same way and sometimes worse! πŸ˜‰

    I watch a lot of different shows. My guilty pleasures are quite a few on Bravo but then I do find myself sitting down and watching Doctor Who with my husband.

    1. Hi Amy. Thanks so much for dropping by. So you think Doctor Who is more of a guy thing. I’d have to say the Bravo shows (for me anyway) are more of a girl thing… you mean like “The Housewives…” type reality show? As for which of the “new” doctors you like, I’m pretty sure David Tennant is mostly everyone’s fav.

  10. First thing first the fact that referenced the greatest Scifi EVER and Parenting makes you a genius.

    That being said I think you need to tell all your readers what happened next:

    Daddy tries as best as he can to save the day, but when the children won’t listen it is Mommy who ends ups saving daddy. She puts all the children to bed, cleans the dishes, and takes out the trash but nearly kills herself in doing so. She also inadvertently makes Uncle Jake Immortal. Then Daddy saves mommy by taking away all her powers and giving her a bubble bath. πŸ™‚

    1. LOL. Well done, Jason. You carried my analogy much further than I ever dared. Almost spit up my coffee this morning reading “She also inadvertently makes Uncle Jake Immortal.” Talk about ones odd uncle… Captain Jack would be a doozey. Who knew Wales was so exciting?

  11. I also have to say that I cannot believe I just watched that. LOL

    And I am totally disappointed that it wasn’t the original Dr. Who from the sixties!

    1. From the ’60s… William Hartnell or Patrick Troughton? I’ve never actually seen them. Glad you survived this brief viewing of Mr. Eccleston’s Doctor. πŸ˜‰

  12. I love when another fella is proud enough to tell the world about his love of being a daddy. I have blogged on this same subject…lol…not the Dr. Who one…..I hope we can share some ideas and team up to help others…..thank you ..Chris

    1. Hi Chris. Thanks for dropping by. I certainly have no hesitation about telling the world I’m a daddy and husband. Both are the most important things I’ve ever done and likely ever will do. And I’ve done some pretty amazing things prior to marriage and fatherhood, so that’s saying a lot. Have a great weekend!

  13. Hilarious. Kind of reminds of a Mary Catherine Gallegher skit – where she says, “My thoughts can best be explained through….(insert reenactment of tv/movie scene)”

    1. I’m often compared to Mary Katherine Gallagher. Perhaps people confuse my kilt for a Catholic schoolgirl skirt? Real men wear kilts! Well, you have to be a real man given the number of people that want to kick your @ss for wearing a skirt… I mean kilt. Okay, I don’t really wear a kilt… or a schoolgirl skirt, just to be clear. Now it sounds like I’m “protesting too much.” Somebody please stop me from typing! [stepping away from the keyboard now]

  14. Okay, I have to get my husband to see this. He is a big Dr. Who fan, and I”m pretty sure he will love it even more than I did.
    LOL.
    Thank you.
    visiting from the Mom Loop

    1. Hi Christina. You may be one of the few women to read this blog and say they liked the clip. I do love Doctor Who, but blasphemously I must confess I’m not too fond of the Daleks. Shhhh. πŸ˜‰

  15. LOL We all have to get our parenting tips from somewhere. πŸ˜‰

    I’m a reality tv junkie. Not sure if that helps me any. Though I do occasionally want to put my kids on an island and see who the sole Survivor would be….

    1. Yeah, I’m not sure if Doctor Who is better or worse than the Real Housewives of where ever? LOL. Thanks so much for dropping by. Life’s been mad crazy lately, but I promise to blog again soon… and no SciFi in the next one. πŸ˜‰

  16. I love the analogy! I would rather be Romana than Rose though. She was a Time Lord. You know the whole equality thing. πŸ˜‰

    1. Whoa… you’re showing a whole new side of you. I like it. I’m all for equality as long as I get to hold the remote control. πŸ˜‰

  17. Hmm, My dad was a Dr. Who fan and he was also an AMAZING dad. So maybe you’re on to something here πŸ™‚

    1. It’s kind of interesting that being a fan of Doctor Who now spans generations since it’s been on so long. I really only started watching the more recent incarnation. As for the tie in between the Doctor and a good dad, I’m sure yours would have been an amazing dad with our without that influence. Or maybe its that Doctor Who appeals to good dads? Geeky good dads?

  18. OK, NOW my morning is complete – Dr. Who and coffee – perfect start! AND I absolutely love your take on this – NO – just say NO and rescue the damsel in distress – what’s not to like!?!

    I remember when I first discovered Dr. Who then they suddenly got rid of him and another one popped up – I learned then and there that you can’t trust BBC (just kidding) ’cause that broke my heart, temporarily – so I also learned you can survive cast changes. Visiting via someone else via SITS!

    1. Hi. Thanks for your comment, and for thinking my sill post was at least a bit entertaining. πŸ™‚ Yeah, I’m a bit of a geek dad. Per your comment, while I was aware of the many previous Doctors, I did not watch the original shows, so this Doctor was my first. Most like Tennant better, but I actually liked this one. And… I’m very sorry to see Amy and Rory from the current season go. Have a supper weekend!

  19. I loved your post! Dr. Who has a perfect strategy for avoiding power struggles with children. Just say “No.” Repeat as often as necessary. Thanks! Growingmindsproject.blogspot.com

    1. Thanks, Josie. Yep, while it can be overdone by some parents, the power of “no” should not be overlooked. πŸ™‚

  1. […] A Parenting Lesson from Doctor Who. […]

  2. […] A Parenting Lesson from Doctor Who. […]

Leave a Reply to Nicole Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Instagram