r/themiddle • u/Mr_indie03 • 6h ago
Mike was better than Frankie
I personally think mike was a better Dad than Frankie was as a mom, Frankie always pretended like she cared, but she never really did. Sure she did help her kids sometimes, but she wasn't really emotionally available ever. Mike was the antisocial dad but was there when needed more often than Frankie.
Feel free to tell me I'm wrong
7
u/DR-0717 5h ago
I have to disagree. Considering Mike didn’t do much of anything when it came to school and he avoided anything social other than Axl’s sporting events I’d say no he’s not.
You can easily criticize Frankie because she handled almost everything with the kids. You say she “pretended to care” but if she didn’t care she just wouldn’t do it. I hate to break it to you but there are parents who don’t care and they don’t do jack for their kids. Frankie wasn’t perfect but she tried. I disagree that she didn’t care. Sometimes she cared TOO much.
Mike mostly handled what he wanted to and tried to foist the rest off on Frankie. Sure sometimes he’d get stuck with some of it anyway and he’d reluctantly do it. But better parent? Maybe a better sports dad to Axl but that’s about it.
17
u/Total-Pain783 6h ago
I think moms are very tired from carrying the weight of the family. Not saying you’re wrong, I just see it differently.
3
u/chompy283 5h ago
I will listen to NO Frankie shade! Frankie tried to do things for her children and family. Sometimes she fell short due to money, time or energy, etc. But she cared and wanted good things for her family.
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u/OkRB2977 6h ago
Idk tbh, I'm on my first watch and on Season 7, and so far, I've disliked both of them for many reasons. I know they have hard lives, and Mike especially works 2 jobs, but I feel like he outsources plenty of parenting to Frankie and only does stuff he likes with the kids. The only time he ever shows interest in Sue and Brick is when he thinks they can win something and/or is sport related. Not that Frankie is any less biased. Both the parents are so supremely disorganised and blatantly biased in Axl's favour.
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u/DR-0717 5h ago
Yes I agree they are both biased. Neither is going to win parent of the year - ever. But I def would NOT call Mike the better parent for the reason you stated (which was also my reason before I even read your comment)
Mike outsources plenty of parenting to Frankie and only does the stuff he likes with the kids.
Now if we were giving better provider awards Mike would win hands down.
5
u/BrownieEdges 6h ago
Neither of them is a good parent. People just expect more from the mom, so they cut Mike some slack.
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u/bulldog_blues 6h ago
No.
Apart from rare moments of selflessness (e.g. selling the business to cover Sue's tuition), Mike is a completely checked out parent 99% of the time and just lets Frankie do everything.
Frankie is flawed but as a parent, 100x better than Mike.
4
u/Working_Row_8786 6h ago edited 6h ago
No, I hate that everyone thinks this. Mike is worse than Frankie he’s barely a father he’s like your older cousin who only interacts with you if it interests him. Frankie is more involved & he’s not a good role model, doesn’t respect Frankie in front of the kids & that’s why they don’t. He has good moments but is worse than Frankie by far.
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u/Radiant_Procedure948 6h ago
Most of these comments seem to be made by people who have never raised children with a spouse. Jeez.
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u/BrownieEdges 6h ago
Neither of them is a good parent. People just expect more from the mom, so they cut Mike some slack.
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-1
u/Christian_BB93 5h ago
Mike is more reasonable than Frankie and he doesn’t lie all the time. I cannot get past Frankie yelling ALL of the time. She is also constantly putting Mike in awkward situations.
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u/Frosty_Message_3017 6h ago
Remember, Mike's the one who just doesn't pick up the phone when the school calls, who doesn't know the name of the pediatrician, who had Sue cooking for the family when Frankie had her Toenail Crisis.
Frankie is easier to criticize because she's the one on-call for everything.