A Dad and Two Uncles Make a Wonderful Family　2人のおじさん、素敵な家族

I started watching an American TV comedy series from the 1980s called Full House. The story is about the Tanner family, who lost their mother in a car accident. The father, Danny Tanner, asked his brother-in-law Jesse and his best friend Joey to move in and help raise his three daughters: 10-year-old DJ, 5-year-old Stephanie, and baby Michelle, who is only 9 months old. The three sisters each have their own personalities. In every episode, they run into small troubles, get help from their dad and two uncles, solve the problems, and grow along the way.

Growing up in a Japanese family, I found it fascinating that the Tanners openly express every emotion, from gratitude to anger, so freely. In my family, I rarely shared my worries with my parents, and we did not express love verbally the way the Tanner sisters do.

Although in real life it may be unlikely for two men outside the immediate family to take part in raising children, I found the setup very appealing. After all, it takes a village to raise a child, and the involvement of caring adults beyond parents is truly important.

アメリカのコメディドラマを見始めた。昔のドラマで、フルハウスという。フルハウスは母親を交通事故で亡くした父子家庭のタナ―一家の話で、3姉妹とその父親が、義理の弟と親友に同居してもらって生活する話だ。10歳のDJ、5歳のステフ、0歳のミシェルの3人姉妹はそれぞれ個性を発揮しながら、自分たちの身の回りで小さな事件を起こし、父親と二人のおじさんの力を借りて解決し、成長していく。
日本の家庭に育つと、家族たちが感謝でも怒りでも、なんでも言葉で表すことがとてもまぶしい。私が育った家ではタナー家の姉妹のように悩みを親に話すこともなかったし、愛情を言葉で表現しあうこともなかったと思う。
家族でもない2人の男性が育児にかかわるという設定は現実には実現しにくいだろうが、魅力的に感じた。子どもが育つためには、親以外の親しい大人の協力が不可欠だと思うからだ。