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© Penelope Lemov and Parenting Grown Children, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given.

© Penelope Lemov and Parenting Grown Children, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given.

 

Blogger Sally Torbey writes about "5 to 7,"a film she describes as being about "how to love an adult son who is making some questionable decisions that are hard to accept." For most viewers the film is about a young man's romance with an older woman who, being married with children, can only see him for two hours a day–from 5 to 7. Here's her key point for those of us who are parents of adult children:

"We had the pleasure of hearing the writer and director of the film, Victor Levine, speak about the film after the screening. I loved learning that the funny quirkiness of Glenn Close's character [the mother of the adult son] is partly based on his own mother's antics. I want to channel her character's inspiring ability to cast aside her preconceived notions as to how her son should lead his life, and embrace the woman he loves and who loves him, despite the initial shock and ongoing concerns of the circumstances of their relationship and the potential downsides of this romantic liaison. Although her character is critical of her son's desire to be a writer and nags him to attend law school instead, she is unconditionally supportive of him when he falls in love, even though I suspect her "mom radar" detects that this might not end well for him. Glenn Close's character motivates me to judge and lecture less, and appreciate the directions our children's lives might take them, and perhaps remember that being their parent and a part of their lives is more of a privilege than ever."

 

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4 responses to “Observations: Parenting insights from the romantic movie “5 to 7””

  1. Sharon Greenthal Avatar

    i’ve heard this is a great movie, and I will watch it for sure. How exciting to hear the writer/director in person!

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  2. Candace Allan Avatar

    Years ago my own mom had to be the understanding mother when my brother and a woman 14 years his senior, with two children fell in love. That was a quarter of a century ago and they are still together having raised the girls to be strong, good women.

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  3. penny Avatar

    Thanks for the real-life reminder that we shouldn’t pre-judge our children’s choices when it comes to love.

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  4. penny Avatar

    i loved hearing that the Glenn Close character was based on the writer-director’s mom. adds a wonderful layer to the story.

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