Have you seen the show Bluey? Bluey is an Australian cartoon developed and written by John Brumm featuring a family of blue heelers (Australian cattle dogs) living in a city of dogs.

The show is described as being for preschoolers, but watch just one episode and you’ll quickly realize that Bluey is anything but another children’s cartoon show. In reality, Brumm seems to be addressing the adults in the room. I felt bamboozled.

In each episode, the central theme—whether intended or not—is how much this family plays. The heeler kids are regularly engaged in pretend play, the adults are intertwined in these sometimes elaborate play schemes, and all the major lessons? Yep, taught through play.

The first few episodes made me angry. What parent or caregiver has the time or energy for that much play? Turn everything into a game? Really? What outlandish expectations are you pushing here, Brumm?

And yet, much to my dismay, I love watching these shows. They make me laugh—out loud. I leave each episode feeling lighter for the laughter. And also called out.

Turns out, the........

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