Yes, Sir, She’s My Baby
Mar 20th 2007
Suzanne EnochOn Writing!
Somebody – I think it was W.C. Fields – said “never work with children or animals”. Since he was in the entertainment 
business, I’m not sure whether he was complaining over the fact that both are difficult to make do what you want, or that they were both way easier on the eyes than he was.
Anyway, I love putting both kids and animals in my books. I’ve even been told that I write children well. I find this both to be a great compliment and a source of amusement. I’m single, never married, and with no kids of my own. I added the “no man in my life” bit because at least one of my fellow goddesses believes that her husband should be included in the “children” category on our “Better Know a Goddess” page — so I don’t qualify as having kids around on either count.
So do I have a special, mysterious, Pied-Piperish connection to the miniature horde? Have I done special, lengthy studies into the state of “being a kid”ness? Nope. I think the answer can be found in what my mom and my aunt still call me from time to time – Peter Pan. Yes, I’m a big kid with action figures and a mortgage. My young nephews think I rock because I bought them annual passes to Disneyland. I drag them there all the time, because I like to go. Wonder, absurdity, imagination, being the center of your own universe – I’m not saying I buy into that last one, but I understand and appreciate those qualities.
Kids see through b.s. They say what’s on their minds, and they think literally. When the hero moans “Every time I kiss her I die,” the kid says “Really? Is she poison? You should probably stop kissing her, then.” Ah, yes, the little children are a great foil to the abstract, at times absurd, rituals we adults go through in the name of love. They’re great for romantic comedy, to bring a laugh into the middle of lovers’ own self-absorption.
Do you have a favorite child in movies or literature? A least favorite? What makes them great – or awful? Do you like kids in romances, or do you think they’re too distracting?
20 Comments »
20 Responses to “Yes, Sir, She’s My Baby”
dbrown3400 on 21 Mar 2007 at 12:24 am #
I have a favorite child star, who is now grown up, and that is Andrea Mcardle, who was Annie on Broadway. I preferred her performance above the others although Aileen Quinn was good in the movie. In literature, perhaps influenced by the movie, is Oliver from Charles Dickens Oliver Twist. Both characters are scrappers, determined to rise above their lowly beginnings to make something of their lives.
In literature, I like children especially ones who grow up to have their own books. They can be consipirators with their older siblings or give them grief, it really doesn’t matter. I don’t think children just for the sake of putting them in the book serves any purpose.
W.C. Fields made that statement, I think, because he was afraid of being upstaged. He was extremely insecure and reduced any possible distractions.
Donna
Keri Ford on 21 Mar 2007 at 6:35 am #
I don’t know where he is now, or what he’s doing, but I’ve always thought the Welch’s grape juice boy (you know, the one with the dimples) was as cute as a kid could be.
As far as reading goes, I’d have to say Peep is the first that pops in mind. Usually, when I read, the kids that young (she was 6? with Nell/Valentine’s story?) don’t have many ‘lines’ in a story as you’ve given her, and so they aren’t memorable.
I’ve never given her one thought or another whether I like her in there or not until you asked. I’ve always enjoyed her little banters with her family, and she brings more life to the story to make it seem real. Now that I think of it, if Peep wasn’t in there, I’d have a hard time swallowing Seb because he can be so…’wardonish’ sometimes. She’s his little breath of fresh air and reminds the reader that he’s had hell to go through.
Kids in a story are fine with me. Whether it be romantic comedy, or something more serious. So long as they have their place and aren’t just tossed in out of the middle of nowhere for no reason.
Karen Rose on 21 Mar 2007 at 8:08 am #
I have to admit, ’tis I - the one who thinks her husband should be counted as a big kid in the goddess stat book. He’s an eighth grade history teacher and, well, there’s a reason he’s a popular teacher with that age group, lol.
I love to put kids in my books. I think adding families gives realism and also a warmth to my otherwise grisly murder mystery/suspenses.
One book I loved with kids is Teresa Medeiros’s CHARMING THE PRINCE. The hero and heroine are absolutely wonderful, but the kids make this book really special. I think I must have read it at least 3 or 4 times and the kids make me chuckle every time.
Julia London on 21 Mar 2007 at 8:56 am #
I’ve written them, but I have a hard time writing kids into my books, mainly because I am too much of a dolt to know how to use them wisely. I have better luck with dogs, because you can kick them out the door when you can’t remember why you ever included a dog in your book, and no one bats an eye. Its harder to get rid of the kids when they aren’t working for you.
I like reading kids, though. My favorite kids in literature are the Harry Potter kids. Does that count?
As for a child star, when I was a kid, I loved the old Shirley Temple movies. She was so cute and she was such a good orphan. I loved how the handsome benefactor came to save her and Shirley would somehow–and very charmingly–hook him up with the orphan’s headmistress or some one like that. And they would all ride off to live in the big mansion happily ever after. SIGH….
Kelly Ann on 21 Mar 2007 at 9:05 am #
I think children in stories add humor and spice. One of my favorite book series is Anne of Green Gables, I’ve read all the books, all the way through Annes youngest daughter and I’ve loved following the life of all of them. Little Women is another excellent example, there are so many lovely books that follow all the characters and have loads of children involved.
Another series I’ve loved is the Sherbook Bride Series (Catherine Coulter) all the siblings falling in love and they all have their own stories. I have children so when they are in a romance they make it more realistic at times. I only read historical romance, but they have a place there too, even with all the nannies and tutors, Amanda Quicks, “Deception” is one of my favorite books of all times. (As you can tell I have many favorites! LOL) It has 3 naughty nephews and it shows that children are here for our love and it’s possible that others can love children as their own.
I was a single mom of 2 after my divorce and about 8 years ago I met a man who didn’t have children. He told me that it didn’t matter that I had kids and he didn’t, so when it eventually became an issue he and I parted ways. To this day he has been married 3 times and never been able to have children. Is it evil of me to think he deserves it? Then, I met a man who has no children of his own, but treats my children as if he was their paternal father. He has brought my own romance to life. So, I’m babbling, but in some (not all) stories, children bring a certain wealth to the overall mood of what the author is portraying that couldn’t be left out of the book if they tried to go back and rewrite it without the child or children present. Kids are fun, honest and naughty, what better characters could you have?
SuzyQ on 21 Mar 2007 at 9:56 am #
I agree with most of the comments here. Children add a sense of realism to books. They are present in our own lives, so it’s only natural they should appear in books.
I also agree with Kerri that the first character that comes to mind is Peep. I can relate to Seb when Peep would say or do something that would cause him to roll his eyes and I just knew he was thinking “What am I in for when she grows up!” Many times I have held my head thinking the same thing about my own daughter!
RachelG on 21 Mar 2007 at 9:56 am #
I write children in a lot of my books. I like to write children. It shocks me when authors royally screw writing children. It’s even more shocking when you know that the author HAS children of her own. I’ve read wonderful, multi-dimensional, children in books by authors who don’t have children, and totally cardboard, horribly written children, but authors who do. I think it all comes down to talent.
One of my huge pet peeves in books is when children act like adults And I hate when children are killed off, or nearly killed off, to provided a tear jerking finale. I LOATHED the movie Pay It Forward.
I did like the girl in Little Miss Sunshine.
Suzanne Enoch on 21 Mar 2007 at 10:48 am #
Ah, thanks for the nice comments about Peep. She was a hoot (no pun intended) to write, and yes, she was a way I could show Sebastian’s softer side without him really having to do anything…soft.
I think she really comes into her own with Sebastian’s book, but that’s another story. One that comes out in June. It’s called SINS OF A DUKE. *g*
terrio on 21 Mar 2007 at 10:51 am #
I think children can be a great addition to a story but I hate when they just seem to float in and out with no explanation as to where they are in between their appearances. I know in historicals it’s easier to just put them with the nurse or the governess but in contemp you can’t just write them in and out like the heroine can hang them on a hook and go out to a dinner party.
And, no offense, but I really don’t like the secret baby stuff.
Karen Hawkins on 21 Mar 2007 at 1:25 pm #
OOOH Suzie! I’ve been waiting for Sebastian’s book!!!! YIPPEEE!!! Somehow, I didn’t think it was coming out so soon, so I’m putting it on my calendar now. Actually, it was already ON my calendar, but I didn’t realize SINS OF A DUKE was Sebastian so now I’ve got it circled in RED.
I love children in books — when they’re well done. I think they are a great foil for the less humorous people, the ones who take life too seriously. I had a great time when I wrote An Affair to Remember with my too stern autocratic hero, Anthony. He needed those kids (and Anna!) to lightening him up. He just didn’t know it.
What I really, REALLY love though is to see the children when they’re older and to see if they’re as warm and taking as I imagined they’d be when I read them the first time. Which is another reason why SINS OF A DUKE will be in my hot little hands the second it hits the stores — June 1st, right? Can’t wait to see Peep ‘come into her own’!!!
Maria Duncan on 21 Mar 2007 at 1:48 pm #
I loved Anne in Anne of Green Gables. Other kids who come to mind are the little boy who played the young version of Bruce Willis’ character in ‘The Kid’, the kids in Little Rascals, Bart in The Simpsons, Matilda. There are so many!
Sabrina Jeffries on 21 Mar 2007 at 2:16 pm #
Love kids in books. I’ve never really understood people who don’t like them. Yes, I suppose they can be done badly, but even then I don’t mind them too much. Rexanne Becnel does children particularly well. I loved The Heartbreaker, in which the nobleman hero has decided to claim his illegitimate children and raise them, including the one who’s been on the streets for years. I love it when the kids run the hero a merry dance.
I like writing children, but they’re hard, because then you have to figure out where to stash them while the mother or father is courting. As Terrio said, you can’t just forget they exist, although it IS easier in a historical, what with governesses and all.
One of my favorite kids in a show is Jake Harper in Two and a Half Men. He’s the closest thing to a real kid I’ve ever seen in TV. He’s clueless when he should be clueless and too nosy just when no parent wants him to be. I just adore him.
Rachel, I loved Pay it Forward until the end. Then I felt cheated. And angry. Grrrr.
And oddly enough, I love secret baby stories. I’ve never written one, but I like reading them.
AndreaW on 21 Mar 2007 at 2:19 pm #
Count me in the “Peep Parade”! I love Peep! And I love other kids in books as well.
If written correctly, they can add so much depth and humor.
Suzie…can’t wait for SINS OF A DUKE!! Seb…*sigh*…
RachelG on 21 Mar 2007 at 3:09 pm #
It’s no secret–I LOVE secret baby books. I can see where readers might get sick of them though.
Pay It Forward–what an intentional, tear jerking, sappy ending. I really hate it if I can predict the tear jerking, sappy ending, and I could see that one coming a mile away. The whole hospital scene at the end made me want to hurl something besides dinner.
Suzanne Enoch on 21 Mar 2007 at 4:04 pm #
Did anybody see “The Pursuit of Happyness”? I loved the kid in that — but in person at the Oscars he just didn’t do anything for me. “Little Miss Sunshine”, loved it, loved her. And of course “To Kill a Mockingbird” has some of the greatest, most natural-seeming kids ever.
jackietoo on 21 Mar 2007 at 6:20 pm #
I love to read books with children. It seems like for while there heroes and heroines had no families at all; parents dead, no sibs, no kids. It was kinda depressing. I know there are situations in real life that are like that but not ususally both sides of the family.
Suzanne-I, too, have no children of my own but I did work in child care for about 20 years and have 50+ nieces and nephews (and I’m only in my forties) so I like to read about children that seem real. For example, I don’t want to hear a three-year-old using words that a even teenager wouldn’t know.
I’m currently reading Janet Chapman’s “The Seductive Imposter” and am already hoping to see Michaela grow up in future books. After I read an excerpt of Teresa Medeiros’ “Charming the Prince” on her website, I had to order it just to read about all those kids! I hope it gets here soon
(Ladies, excerpts on your sites are very important, to me anyway :Þ)
Nicole Jordan on 21 Mar 2007 at 10:06 pm #
Yikes, are you guys gonna shoot me if I say I’m not wild about kids in romances?? Jackie2, I also loved the kid in Pursuit of H. Great little actor. But for romances, especially historicals, I can only tolerate kids if they add to the story and they’re not continually upstaging the hero and heroine with their cutesy antics.
Kids can make good secondary characters, but I want to read a love story, and a lot of times, a kid makes a story too much like reality for me — which is exactly what some of you really liked, lol.
But having said that…. I just finished Susan Mallery’s single title contemp, Irresistable, last night, and she did a great job with the five year old daughter…. intetgral to the story and cute, but didn’t take away from the romance, only enhanced it. Cause in the end, the emotionally wounded hero fell for the kid while he was falling for the heroine. That was a great use of a kid, IMO.
However, even if I sometimes like kids in romances, what I absolutely cannot bring myself to like is a pregnant heroine!! Sorry, that’s just too much like real life for me. *G*
NicoleJ
Karen Hawkins on 22 Mar 2007 at 12:07 pm #
I gotta see Little Miss Sunshine. EVERYONE is talking about it. Couldn’t bring myself to see Pursuit of Happyness. I hate it when a kid suffers. HATE it. Can’t watch ER to this day.
In a romance or a comedy, though, where you have more of a family situation, I loooove seeing kids!
EllenElyse on 24 Mar 2007 at 1:43 am #
Not a big fan of kids in romance novels. If I’m reading a romance… I really don’t want to be thinkin about kids.
Stephanie on 29 Mar 2007 at 8:21 am #
I don’t mind if kids are in a romance book - well, on the edges of it, I’d say. :>) There are a couple books that come to mind, where the lead female has younger brothers and sisters, who are under her care…and I enjoy those. But I enjoy it less if she’s, say, a widow with her own kids. It clutters up the romance for me! ;>)