Bluey and the Case for Bandit's Canonization

Just kidding about the title.  It was something my son said to me, and as the father of four small children, he hasn’t been able to sit in the church for an entire Mass since the day they were born.  Just so you know what he and his wife are up against, one of them pulled the fire alarm just after the Consecration. (Yeah, they don’t go to that parish anymore!)

          Those of you with children have most likely encountered the Bluey show.  As Grandmother, I am positive I’ve seen every episode at least four times.  It is a kindly, gentle show that teaches parents and children how to be good and not by being preachy, but instead by example.

          Each episode is only seven minutes long, and as above mentioned son says, it’s easy to be a good parent for seven minutes.  He is not wrong.

          The family consists of Bandit the father, Chili the mother, and Bluey age 6 and Bingo age 4.  Bluey can be a handful.  Did I mention they are dogs?  It is peopled(?) with interesting and versatile characters.  Rusty's dad is deployed, Jack has ADHD, Chili's sister can't have children, Lucky's mom and dad have strong loyalties to different cricket teams, The terriers mom likes Wintons dad, etc.  The themes of each episode can be deep or simple.  

          Bandit works from home, while Chili works at the airport.  Each episode is child driven and features an interaction with parents, neighbors, teachers or other adults in normal daily situations.  We have all been there. 

          When Chili is trying to get the children out the door to meet a friend and they can’t find shoes, hats, or get to the dunny, Bluey and Bingo are distracted by toys mostly ‘sticky gecko’.  Chili is barely hanging onto her patience, and Bluey doesn’t help when she keeps asking why this or that, over and over again.  Chili’s patience and kindness perseveres, and she gets them out the door without bloodshed.

          In another episode, Bandit thinks he’s so clever because he’s tricked the kids into playing the quiet game.  Then he gets orders from his wife who has been called into work to pick up a birthday present for their niece muffin.  Muffin is unruly and not the kind to suffer in silence.

          Bandit takes the girls shopping and they have continued playing the quiet game.  It takes patience and self-control for Bandit to finally figure out what gift to buy for Muffin based on a game of charades, knowing Muffin will not react well to the wrong present.  Thanks to Alfie, the brand-new sales boy, all ends well.

          I truly believe these episodes are a strong teaching tool that will have a positive effect on our society.  There are episodes about lying, tattling, sharing, picking up toys, and squabbling.  In the episodes, the problems are identified, a dialogue is opened and the good and bad is discussed.  Granted, the problems are solved in that seven-minute timeframe, but the solutions are realistic and believable.

          There is an episode where Winton stands too close to the other kids, and they all run away from him.  He goes to Bluey and stands right up against her and asks why the children don’t like him.

          She, very matter-of-factly, tells him “You’re a space invader.”  He doesn’t understand so she shows him how far away he should stand when he goes by someone.  Now he knows and the problem is solved.

          Each episode has something to teach.  A parent could watch with the children and use the storyline to discuss which behaviors are wrong and which are right and the why of it all.  For example, in one episode the children accuse Bandit of always bossing them around: “Eat your dinner,” “get in the car,” “fasten your seat belts,” etc., Bandit uses the GPS Navigator to teach them the importance of obeying.  He turns left when GPS tells him to turn right and so on until they are lost.  Bluey and Bingo insist he should obey Navigation so he won’t get lost.  He has used the situation to get them to understand why they should listen to him.

          My personal favorite is “The Grannymobile.”  It’s hilarious (my opinion) and the lesson it teaches is that crankiness is going to cost you. 

          These lessons are not just for children.  We live in a society where a large portion of people are raised in single parent households as well as in daycares.  Most kids and young adults have no idea how to parent.  They have had zero opportunity to observe it.

Watching Bandit and Chili interact and stand firm together while teaching their children manners, decency, and unselfishness are outstanding lessons for us all.  I feel sad for my children when I think of how much better I could have parented if only I had been taught a different way to handle my impatience.

And it’s not just Bandit and Chili’s child rearing skills that are impressive.  They also have a pretty solid marriage.  There is an episode where they’re trying to put together a porch swing purchased from an Ikea-like store.  The differences of opinions and the frustrations they develop boil over, but their communication skills smooth everything over in the end.

Now, you may think this is a boring, preachy show, but you couldn’t be further from the truth.  It is light, colorful, even whimsical.  The writing is clever and witty, while the stories are taken from real life. I really don’t mind watching with my grandchildren even though I’ve seen every episode no less than four times.  It’s that entertaining.

I see the hand of the Holy Spirit woven throughout each show especially in the 28-minute episode where Bandit gets a new job and the family has to move.  So many pieces are put into place in order to bring the show to a satisfying conclusion.  Without giving too much away, one bit is the coin that Bluey finds in the diner, which eventually ends up in the scenic viewer, which then ends up stopping the sale of their house.  (Just watch it!)

The episode illustrates for me how God works in our lives.  The little things that happen that lead to the next thing and later that very thing whatever it is has a profound effect on our life.  Some people call these coincidences, “God”incidences, which is a good name for it.

So, the next time your children want a little screen time, sit them down in front of Bluey.  Better yet, sit down with them.  Have a laugh, learn something together, and enjoy the wholesomeness of family life.

          You might even find yourself buying Bluey shirts, hats, blankets, and backpacks just like my aforementioned son.