To be honest, imagine living with a single, constantly busy mother (who works tirelessly to provide for you both), to the point where your friends simply accept it as a given that no one will ever pick you up after school. And this is happening at just ten years old. Your mother might miss your performances or be unable to prioritize your needs because of her work. As an adult, I understand the necessity, but it still represents a fundamental lack of emotional care for a child; I do not blame Opal, but...The choice?
Additionally, I didn't fully understand GB-lady's response in the Q&A. Opal chose to have a baby, for no clear reason, without a stable job or income, and on her own. I completely understand that circumstances can be different, but in this case, it seems like an irresponsible decision. Of course, I'm grateful what Qiu, Tam, and their parents and grandparents step in to care for the MC. However, I have a feeling that my MC will only ever have a purely neutral relationship with Opal, even if Opal is very happy about the grandchildren.
--> (Before I start, I'm absolutely not criticizing your opinions, or your MC! Excuse me, I'm just a really chatty person. :,) )
This comment made me think! I replayed the game, and honestly, I do think Opal is doing just fine. Hear me out, the only time she's unavailable is in the Step 1 'Home' moment, and the Step 2 Prologue, right? When I paid more attention to Opal herself, she is a genuinely warm mother who is a good parent for the MC, other than when she's been called by her bosses-- Or the 'big wigs', as she calls it in-game. Which is also relatively not often either.
No matter how you act to her, rude, insulting, polite, or excited-- she's mature and nurtures the MC and their feelings, guiding them in the right way and balancing how much attention the MC needs (Not too overbearing or easy-going to the point of neglect). I feel like the Magic moment played a part in viewing how loving Opal is for the MC's opinions.
There's no shame, no belittlement. If you want to stay outside, she makes it clear you can't stay outside forever and WHY, without insulting the MC. And, after making herself clear, she fully cooperates in the MC's idea to be with their friends in the backyard a little longer. Very good for child development! Many parents, yes, plural: Cannot do even a quarter of the job she does, even if they butt heads.
At my first playthrough, it was easy to mistake that freedom to choose as neglect.
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For anyone uninterested, you can skip this! It's not important context for this reply!!! Just my own experiences---
My parents are Asian, and growing up, I had some sort of trauma that disabled me educationally. Couldn't focus, couldn't express myself when I was being hurt by someone, very paranoid. What happened I won't disclose, but my parents had taken the approach of beating me once I was returned from that incident that left me disabled mentally. Punishment, ignoring me, telling me to off myself (they were very graphic, but I won't be for this comment section LOL) and how they'd send me back to those who hurt me or just hurt me themselves, or even off
themselves if I couldn't figure myself out. Started when I was 5, and didn't stop until I was 11 and was too far into puberty for my parents' comfort.
Both decided to justify it by saying that's 'just what I needed at the time', and it broke their heart more than their hits hurt me. I won't even bother expanding on that.
I wasn't allowed to talk to other kids outside of my siblings, and they promised to let me be with others once I was 'good enough', and how others were 'too stupid' and 'too good' for me at the same time. I was homeschooled and then charter schooled online. I felt incredibly lonely, and my older sibling (5 years older) at the time, liked to cut me and threaten to murder me while breaking my toys, and my parents didn't intervene. They'd hit me for retaliating, and blame my stunted ability to learn. This created a harsh and no-good relationship between me and my older sibling, and I cut my sibling off as soon as my parents stopped hurting me for disliking what happened to me. I deserve more respect than that, and life is too short to spend trying to glue sand together.
My parents are old now, and too pitiful to cut off. Call it hypocrisy, but I can't do it.
On birthdays, my parents punished me more than usual, because I needed to 'get better than last year', so for 8 years, I skipped my birthday and yelled at anyone who tried to congratulate me. The shame from the missed expectations was unbearable. No card, no present, and nothing I liked to eat because my parents felt they could 'choose for me better' and that they knew me more than I knew myself. There wasn't a single birthday I didn't cry, and get scolded just for feeling that way. Even after I stopped 'cancelling birthdays' with big tears, I celebrate it myself. I don't need others to be happy, even if it would help.
When I was 6, my older sister beat me for being okay with homosexuality. At the time, I had believed 'love is love', because that's what made sense to me. I'm ashamed to say, most of my late childhood after that incident, I was firm on trying to prove to my family I thought queerness was 'gross'. I couldn't question my sexuality without being beaten. My older sibling instilled in me as soon as I hit puberty that I should be 'sex appealing' while my parents said that I was pretty, but not to get arrogant for it. Belittling me for ten minutes after a simple, three word, 'You are pretty'. That helped me start to distance from them ALL early on. I believe my older sibling was attracted to me, which... I do have evidence for, but it's far too disgusting for me to say.
Nowadays, I'm no longer insecure. While I don't know what I identify, and I'm not looking to know now, I can feel safe without forcing myself to criticize others.
Simply put, anything and everything I did was 'wrong', 'stupid', and had me punished. No understanding, no love, and even for something like being too full, or vomiting (I had a small eating disorder as a child), I would be beaten senseless and yelled at for days, followed by animosity for months.
That is not familial love, or even real familial discipline. Discipline should not be like that. Kids should not receive that kind of hate. I specifically love the Our Life series (as well as GB's other games) because of how well done they do this, the inclusivity of family dynamics feel natural. And playing as the MC, the family feels warm and realistic at the same time.
----------------End of Rant!-----
When I see Opal in game, my heart breaks because she's so thoughtful of the MC. It might just be my own warped perception, but when she communicates with them like they're a person who deserves the same amount of respect and decency anyone else would, or maybe even a little more- I can't help but cry even after a dozen playthroughs.
She's not happy in the two times she has to miss out on the MC's moments together, and with how she acts, it's implied she really does follow through later as soon as she can, given by the 'raincheck' thing. She doesn't really appear sad during the 'Home' moment when she packs the MC's lunch, because kids pretty much never see their parents sad. But that doesn't mean she's nonchalant about the whole thing. She also apologizes no matter what at the end of the moment, seriously ashamed she did that to her child. This implicates this isn't normal for her.
Every other time, the MC is 100% prioritized as her child, and when you think about whether or not you like Tamarack the same way (either platonically or romantically) in the Step 1 prologue, she pays close attention to YOU and how YOU feel. Not just the other adult talking, or the excited Tamarack.
I wouldn't say she's financially unfit either. Yes, she's called into work by her boss and needs to go, but that felt more like a professional thing over being backed into a corner financially. She has the same job by the time we get to Step 2, and heck, she literally bought a house at the start of the game-- Can afford extra curriculars, toys, and other activities for the MC. While she does go to the thrift shop, I don't think that makes her 'poor'.
Emotionally, she's relatively available, and while she sends the MC to do activities while she's working, I feel like that was more for the MC than herself, as the MC would likely become depressed by themselves. She spends a decent time at home too, although not as much as a stay at home mom. But it's nothing I can scoff at, since my stay at home mom was more absent than Opal, without any substances at all. My mom just did not like me, it was simple, hurtful, and true.
Walking home is quite normal, since the MC only lives about a few blocks from school (And all the residents are in the loop and considerate of one another, for what we've seen). Opal had seen the low crime rate, and after seeing for herself, made the decision that it was safe for the MC to walk. Especially since the MC (can) walk with their friends, so they're technically never alone then, either. Unless the MC chooses to be.
I grew up in a small town by the shore, and the crime rate was high. We were familiar with locals and never had any issues, so I never had to worry since there were others looking out for me. I walked far and wide, up and down the street. I just needed to get back before sun down. I will admit, this point is irrelevant, since I was simply lucky and realistically, walking alone as a child is dangerous, especially considering my parents made sure I didn't go to other kids and potentially group up (which would've been much safer).
Compared to the MC's situation, the MC is much safer and they only go to school and back-- As well as around the cul-de-sac. So on this, I feel like there's no problem. If the MC wanted, Opal can also drive them to school in the Home moment when the MC is now late for school, and since that was the only time I feel like it was critical they got driven, I have no problem here. Although Opal lets the MC walk if the MC insists, I feel like that's just her trying not to force herself on the MC, especially since the MC was hurt by her actions (cancelling last minute, literally).
Wanting a child despite not wanting a partner is something I completely understand. For all I know, Opal could've just wanted a child, point blank. Personally, I doubt I'll ever find love, because socially? I'm trash. Anxious, brimming with nerves, terrified. And I know why! I often feel very strongly in wanting a child, but not so much in wanting a spouse.
There doesn't need to be a special reason, and Opal does a good job as a mother, worker, and part of the community. Setting a relatively good example, making up for her faults (so far), and caring for our MC the best she can.
She may not be everyone's cup of tea, and she's not my favorite character by any means, but I appreciate what she does and how she is for the MC.
