"An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonald's Playplace" by Sarah Satterlee

Note: This post was written by a student in the spring of 2019.

Sarah Satterlee’s short story “An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonalds’ Play Place”, is a perfect example of bibliotherapy for anyone who is a parent and or works in the childcare field. “An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonalds’ Play Place” is a humorous tale of an exhausted mother watching her child at a McDonalds’ play area who is ecstatic when she meets another mother to whom she can express the annoyances of parenthood. Satterlee’s short story captures the reader’s attention with its imitative stylistic choice of letter formatting,  entertains the reader with sarcastic and humorous descriptions of parenthood, and its cathartic nature evokes relatable reassurance that every parent craves from time to time.

The story starts off with “Dear Like-Minded Mom”; this rare imitative thank you letter format captures the reader’s attention by pretending that the story is actually a letter. Not only does this unique format capture the reader’s attention but it also makes the story even more relatable. I find Satterlee’s short story relatable on a personal level. As someone who works with children on a daily basis and nannies overnight I find myself relating to how the main character, Sarah, feels. I can easily put myself in Sarah’s shoes. There have been many situations where I have been thankful for even the smallest conversation with someone. I will find myself in line at Target not wanting to end my conversation with the cashier because I am so desperate for communication with someone over the age of five.

Satterlee’s story is full of sarcastic dry humor. She compares play areas and parenthood to hell. For example, “Most parents won’t even make eye contact as they yell for their children, tip milkshakes into their mouths, and force-feed them wilted, yellow fries. Finish them before you play, shouts the guilt-soaked parental chorus. It’s the one consistent rule we stick to here in hell”. I believe that most parents or childcare workers will find that the sarcastic humor of the story is relatable in and of itself. Sometimes parenthood is a love hate relationship, and this story captures that reality very well. Parenthood is not all playing catch outside, cuddling on the couch, and giggles; it is also full of tantrums, drawing on the walls, and poopy diapers. In this story the main character, Sarah, is thankful that she found a like-minded mother she can talk to and someone she can vent to which is essential, in my opinion, to surviving parenthood.

Satterlee’s story is relatable in many ways; however the most important way is in its relatable reassurance. Children are exhausting and you feel like you are the rope in a game of tug of war. The parent or care giver’s wants are pushed to the back burner and the needs of the child are at the forefront. For example, “I want to read and travel and explore have a career and be a good mother and never have to walk through the doors of this place where a plastic Ronald McDonald waves at me with his frightening-yet-enticing sodium smile. There has to be something more. You aren’t the only one who feels this way. I’m with you”. This story truly captures the wants, thoughts, and fears that I believe cross many parents’ minds when parenting is at its most challenging points. “An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonalds’ Play Place”, is therapeutic in its relatable reassurance. This story can put a parent’s mind at ease by reminding them that they are not alone and parenting is exhausting. I believe that this story touches on the point that parents always wonder if they are doing it right, and this story has that relatable reassurance that parents need from time to time.  

In conclusion, Satterlee’s short story, “An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonalds’ Play Place,” is bibliotherapy at its finest. This story is relatable and comforting to anyone who has children or cares for them.