Bluey, The Sign | Got us again

In parenting circles, there has been one thing that everyone has been talking about. That is the latest episode of Bluey, named The Sign. 

Bluey already has a reputation for making children laugh and making parents shed more than a few tears with their all-too-relatable themes.

The Sign is no different. But because it was released as a whopping 28-minute long Bluey episode, we knew there would be some impactful themes. And, we did indeed get glassy-eyed – again.

Moving home 

The Heeler family reveal that they are moving from their family home as dad got a better job in another town. This is a big change for a lot of families that I’m sure could instantly relate to this.

The dynamic between the family during the selling of the house is a contrast of:

•  Dad insisted this is the best decision for the children to have a better life.
• Mum agreeing, but seeing her hesitation about moving
• Bluey filled with anxiety about leaving her home, friends and close family
• Bingo, the youngest, the none the wiser of what moving entails.

The emotions attached to moving as a child and as a parent vary hugely. This is shown in every which way by the Heeler family.

Making bold decisions for the good of your family 

Whether you are moving home or making another change for your family, it can be a trying time for everyone involved. Once you become part of a family dynamic your decisions affect not just yourself, but the future of the rest of your family too.

When making a choice like this, be sure to recognise a few key things:

• You are making this decision not in snap-judgment. And that you have considered the good and the bad of this next step. 
• You understand how everyone is feeling about this potential decision. That you haven’t made assumptions about how everyone else feels. It is common to believe that you can make a decision on behalf of your children that is just for their own benefit, but it is vital that you consider the consequences of that decision too, how it will affect them and how you will manage those consequences.

Communication 

This leads onto another clear theme throughout the episode which is the power of communication and the repercussions of not fully listening or expressing what you want.

This theme even carries into the subplot of the episode where two characters, Frisky and Radley are getting married. The day before however, she finds out that Radley has made the assumption that Frisky will move across the country with him. 

A breakdown in communication combined with the Heeler family trying to bury how everyone is feeling, is a clear lack of communication. 

This can happen for several reasons: 

• You or the other are scared that you won’t hear what you want to hear
• You are so sure that your way is the correct way that you refuse to acknowledge the others feelings
• The relationship has reached a point where you haven’t had to make a large decision for a long time. This has resulted in a communication breakdown.

Good luck vs bad luck. 

Whilst Bluey is trying to deal with her emotions in The Sign, at school, Bluey’s teacher Calypso recounts a story highlighting that not all stories have a happy ending – they just end. 

The story does a lovely job of expressing how we must take the good with the bad. But let’s remember that karma doesn’t work in clear patterns. We are in control of our own good and bad luck. 

What Bluey takes from this is that ‘things are going to work out’. This can be misleading, but through the eyes of a 6 year old, it explains that even when you have bad luck, you can create your own good luck afterwards.

The episode ends with Dad realising that moving isn’t the right step for them right now.

If you expected to watch The Sign with the lesson that change is good and moving can be a good thing for Bluey, then this may have been the wrong episode for you. For most, this episode shines a light on acknowledging the people around you and the positive connection you can get from communication.

If you would like to watch something with your children that shows moving home in a positive light, then I would highly recommend Disney Pixer’s Inside Out. It highlights the ups and downs, intense emotions of moving home and your life changing as a child.