click for all 30 Days of Carol
Welcome. Grab a comfy chair and maybe some water. Tea? I think it’s time we talked.
Last summer, the Mommi movement was born. Kayla and I dug our hands into the earth for it, molded it, and set it out in the sun. In a stunning g-chat back-and-forth, we dissected what it means, what it looks like, who is/who isn’t, what it includes, etc, etc. Since then, we’ve had some fun with it – both online and in real life.
There have been gift guides and merch. Spirited discussions of Mommi have unfolded in comment threads. I’ve gotten texts from people I haven’t spoken to in ages that have relayed an overheard Mommi conversation at a bar and asked “Mommi?” about an attached picture of shoes. You could definitely say it’s brought people together. You could also say it’s divided them.
Because of no one’s fault, extended conversations/examples about what Mommi means/is will often sidestep the casual reader, and so what we’ve seen is a slight deviation in its identity since its inception. Of course, over time, it’s to be expected that what Mommi will come to mean to every person will vary. This is natural. But in lieu of recent conversations, and for the sake of clarity in the meantime, let’s review what Mommi’s about:
- Mommi is a state of being, not a state of mind. Aesthetic. Style. Appearance. It’s more tangible than the abstract Daddy.
- Mommi does not strictly exist under the “mom” umbrella. It is possible to be: a mom and not Mommi, Mommi and not a mom, Mommi and a mom.
- Mommi is independent of another person. You can be daddy and be someone’s daddy. You can be Mommi but not someone’s mommi. (This is an important note to make as of late, ahem.)
What can make this even more complex is the possibility to embody the Mommi aesthetic but possess a certain untouchable, take-what’s-yours energy that spills over into daddy. (See: Bette Porter, Claire Underwood.) This distinction is not to be interpreted as having/not having power/strength, and is instead a comment on a softer presence. All of this is to say – and hopefully it’s become clearer as this post has gone on – that:
Carol is Mommi.
“But she is so BOLD,” you’re saying aloud. “Ummmm, you wrote a whole post about it henny?” And, yes, Carol is bold, but Carol is also willfully vulnerable. Carol drinks tea in a cardigan and a nude french manicure. Carol has powder blue leather gloves that she pairs with a mink. Carol wears silk scarves over set hair. Please scroll up to investigate how Carol is holding a martini glass versus how Abby is holding one. Carol has a _______ for every occasion.
And that’s that. Thank you for your time, your thoughts and your prayers, and your energy. Be blessed.
Therese the baby gay,
Was a depressed gay mess,
With a guy playing the boyfriend part,
A camera for her art,
And now Carol, God bless
Therese the baby gay,
Was flung out of space,
Now she can proclaim her love,
By returning her gloves,
Now she’s gonna go round her place
therese, a camera. for your art
You can do it Kristana!
I needed that.
It’s Aries season and I came to fight because Carol’s aesthetic might be Mommi but she is the ultimate Daddy.
ULTIMATE daddy. wow way to double down on…being wrong
Absconding with a daughter-lookalike on a cross-country roadtrip is prettyyyyy aggressive but, you know, agree to disagree. ;)
is this reckless or aggressive
erin
what if
she’s daddy with mommi rising and is also a gemini sun and is just really confusing us
see yes the sign here would be crucial. I do like the idea of blaming things on geminis tho
Because if a woman is powerful she’s masculine.
Maybe not though.
Erin giving a whole new meaning to a Parental Guidance classification.
Also I feel this is a good time for a commercial break:
“Come to Beautiful British Columbia in Canada! We rated Carol as PG when the US rated it as R. Also the beaver is our national animal. Coincidence? I think not!”
Go Snaelle ! Go Beaver !
Is Carol Mommi in the USA but daddy in Canada ?
Yes, good. I don’t see how Carol – or anyone that passive aggressive – could be daddy.
Erin, you have redeemed yourself after the day 15 assault.
at first i read this like, “thanks for this after 15 days of assault” and i was like… fair, and also thank you.
IMO/experience: Daddy invites and wants control of other people as well as inspiring others to want to be in their hands, Mommi wants control but of herself and wants you to choose to come to her.
((i.e. I would plant Carol as 3000000% Mommi))
can someone who knows how to insert gifs as comments find amy poheler in mean girls wilin out as a proud mom in the aisles at the talent show and post it
kdjfkdlsjsjkfjf THANK YOU QUEERGIRL
Totally here for the discourse. I’m of the opinion that she’s more Daddy with a Mommi aesthetic that’s heavily influenced (and constrained) by her era and socioeconomic status.
But does she have to be one or the other? Can’t she be the ultimate pan-parental? Above all of the limitations of categories and language?
Pan-parental !
How I envision Lucky#19 coming to their conclusion about Carol.
PS – That’s wine sniffing NOT wine drinking.
Swap the sweater for a button-down, and this is 100% accurate :)
wow I will also accept this as an answer
So, are you saying that Abby is daddy?
yes see also how she eats eggs
oh thank god, I was so nervous when I clicked on the article
easin in on a tues
happy birthday Erin and thank you for bringing clarity to this important debate in which you are obviously right.
vita thank you & THANK U
Carol is definitely Mommy with a y
emotionally manipulative mommy yeah i can see it
wild card
mommi in the streets, daddy in the sheets
mommi w daddy leanings will also accept this answer
carol is moc (mommi of center)
“Carol is Mommi”
Yes thank you!
Imagine going back in time and somehow also being able to inhabit the fictional 1950s in which the movie takes place and trying to have this discussion with Carol and Therese. I wonder if they’d agree with each other about whether Carol is Mommi or Daddy after they were able to wrap their heads around what the hell we’re talking about.
Carol is 100% mommi forever and ever amen
Good catch on the martini glasses.
I heard a lesbian podcast where the gals talked about Carol without having seen it many dozens of times and it wasn’t the same.
You know, I used to be much more invested in Carol’s Mommi or Daddy status a couple days ago but now I all I care about is that amber is the color of her energy-woo–oohh. That 311 Carol trailer really mellowed me out. Thanks?