Seth Rogen was on Jimmy Kimmel this week, where he did this really funny and clever opener. I’m not going to spoil it for you, you can watch it below. He said that quarantining isn’t that bad for him, but that he’s been smoking more pot than usual and is glad it’s an essential service. Seth has been focusing on his pottery and ceramics-making and is now creating soap dispensers. My favorite part was when he said that things aren’t that bad for him because he doesn’t have kids. I like when men talk about being childfree although I think in Rogen’s case the fact that he smokes all day and makes pottery is a large part of that decision.
Happy belated birthday, what did you do?
My wife arranged for some of our friends to drive by our house and wave to me. For me it’s like perfect. All I want is to see everyone for 15-25 seconds. I don’t want to get too close. I’m more than happy to go out, wave to my friends, speak to them for 15 seconds and everyone can go on their merry way. I’m really built for this. The fact that I have no kids is making this truly not that bad.That’s been getting a lot of discussion in our house, how jealous we are of people who are able to do what they want.
I would be lying alone on my deathbed having not talked to anyone for 15 years and I’ll be like ‘it was worth it for that coronavirus.’ Me and my wife had a lovely time.Last month you were live tweeting Cats
It wasn’t a conscious decision. It was one of those things where I looked back and I was like ‘I’ve been doing this for an hour now.’I’ve never seen Cats, the Broadway musical, I knew nothing about Cats. I was shocked, it’s appalling, it makes no sense. As a filmmaker you’re like ‘this is a poorly made movie’ which it might be, but it’s based on nonsense. The play is nonsense. It supports the theory I have that when something is live you have a much lower tolerance for how good or bad it is. Cats is the perfect example. That survived on Broadway for like 40 years. It sucks. As soon as you commit it to film, you see how it makes no sense.
Did you hear from any of the cast afterwards?
No but a visual effects artist who worked on the film reached out to me and told me that up until very close to release all the cats had buttholes. They had the visual effects artists frantically erase all the buttholes from the cats in the weeks leading up to release. That means that [a butthole cut exists].
[From Jimmy Kimmel Live on YouTube]
I’ve heard that about the butthole edit of Cats! I agree with his thoughts on live entertainment being held to a different standard, that’s true but I truly hated the play when I saw it at age 13. I doubt I’ll ever watch the movie. Seth also said that his parents are doing well, that they’re taking this seriously and that they’re in Canada, a “slightly better functioning country.” I think that’s a vast understatement. His mom is a yoga teacher and she’s been teaching classes on Zoom. Seth’s charity he highlighted on Kimmel is his own, WeareHFC.org, which is focusing on support for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s.
As for not having kids, I keep thinking of what Zoe Saldana said about spending all her time trying to keep her three boys from murdering or setting fire to each other. (We talked about that on the podcast this week here!) I wouldn’t want to have little kids at home with me at this time, but I’m really grateful I have my teenager here. Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves but I prefer that to being alone. The little kid years were tough though and I feel for those of you with small kids at home.
Here’s the interview. The beginning is worth watching as it made me laugh.
At least he doesn’t live like this anymore?
I loved this interview. It was a bit of joy on a kind of shit (already) day.
I was thinking about you yesterday. You’re in NS, right? Are your friends and family all safe? It’s so heartbreaking.
@erinn, we are all shocked, devastated and grieving across the country with you in Nova Scotia. Sending you love and support from NL.
As part of a childless couple, frankly it’s easier without kids in this situation. But we are not saying that to gloat. The bigger picture is we remain safe with our loved ones and there is no domestic abuse happening.
I’m child-free, so maybe I’m naive about this, but I’m appalled at the number of parents on social media complaining about their kids during this time. Parents chose to have these kids and they are all “precious angels”.. until the stay-at-home orders, and now people are acting like they can’t handle being around their kids this much. It’s sad.
Most parents don’t have to work from home while homeschooling or dealing with toddlers. That’s why people complain, not because they can’t handle being with their children in the same house.
Celebrities on the other hand… are not used to go about “taking care” of their kids without a chef and an army of nannies. People like that I find ridiculous. Not being able to be alone with your kid is the definition of “out of touch”.
Winnie – don’t judge until you’ve walked a mile. I’ve been a stay at home mom since my kids are born, and I love my children dearly. That said, this situation is particularly difficult because I’m trying to homeschool my kids, who are restless and cooped up – usually I take them somewhere every day – and my usual coping strategies are impossible. My husband works long hours in healthcare, so I’m home with my two young kids all day and I spend every minute keeping them off screens, feeding them, cleaning up messes, thinking up things for them to do, and I don’t have time or ability to maintain my usual self care routine. It’s like the perfect storm.
Read a book
Exercise
Go for a run
Have a bath
Organize a closet
Watch what you want on netflix
Sleep in
Sit and enjoy a coffee
Complete a home improvement project
Craft
Do any of the above contribute to your mental wellbeing during this pandemic? If so, don’t judge parents who are finding this challenging, because many of us can do none of that without ether 1. parking our kids in front of a screen, or 2. locking our kids in their rooms…. neither of which are viable options for me or my family.
I think the average families (who have no extra help or an army of nannies) should still have an avenue. It’s not good to keep it inside, it’s not like they will abandon their kids. And it is very very hard to WFH while having to help them with their online learning. This is why we took a long time to close schools in Singapore.
The thing is children are human beings. They aren’t plants or pets. The need human social interaction and not on an adult level but on an age appropriate level. Have you ever tried to be the only human social interaction for a 5 year old 30 days straight? How about a 3 year old? Or a 9 year old? Or a 3 year old and a 5 year old and a 9 year old all at once?
This, on top of everything else related to being shut in, is the hardest part for me. I love my children more than life itself but this, this is hard. Not impossible but difficult enough that saying so shouldn’t cause people who aren’t experiencing it to react with derision.
Yep. A little naive. I’m a SAHM to an almost 3 yo and a 9 month old, but this situation is certainly not normal for our lives. We had play dates, outings to museums and zoos, and after my husband was home, I could go meet up with a friend if I needed, or just wander around Target. I also have ppd and my mom and mil came regularly to spend time with us do I could have time for myself or time more easily with one kid at a time. So please don’t assume that we all thought we’d have these kids and just pass them off. No one thinks about global lockdown when choosing to have kids 🙄
My kids are precious angels and I chose to have them knowing it wouldn’t be easy. The old adage “it takes a village” is so very true. I, like most other parents are used to having a support network, and there is nothing wrong with that. My kids miss their playmates and teachers and their extended families. Many moms I know are struggling to work from home while dealing with their kids and it is virtually impossible to do both well at the same time. I have not worked in over a month and because I haven’t been formally laid off I am having a hard time claiming any unemployment benefit. I haven’t been paid in over a month and I don’t know if i have a job to go back to and that is stressful.
The weather where I am is crap and this has been one of the worst springs in decades weather wise so it’s hard to even get them outside. I dont ever complain on social media because the internet is forever, but anonymously the truth is I’m close to losing it and I’m getting sick of my kids, and quite frankly I don’t think there is anything g wrong with me or any other parent feeling that way right now.
I’m with you @lady killer. I love my (small) kids and yes, I chose to have them but I didn’t do that thinking we would all be stuck inside of a small space with no other human interaction for anyone for months on end. So to say to us to stop complaining because this was our choice is BS quiet frankly. If we can’t complain neither can anyone else because right now everyone has something they can complain about and rightfully so. When I complain it’s basically to vent and get it off my chest and I think that’s true for most. It’s not to say my situation is SOOOO much worse than yours because I have kids. I’m not even thinking about you. Would this be easier for me if I didn’t have kids? Maybe but I will never know and that’s that. There’s no point in dwelling on a hypothetical. The weather has been crap here too and the only option is going out in our little neighborhood when it’s cold, windy and muddy, since all the parks and anything else we used to do with them is closed. Are my kids whips for not wanting to get all bundled up to go out with not a whole lot to do? Probably but it is what it is.
No one in the last three generations has experienced anything like this and no one should’ve had to expect or prepare for their future thinking that something like this would happen. If you think that we should’ve that’s just silly. No one was prepared to have to take care of your kids, basically homeschool them, do your own full time job while your boss expects you to have the same production as if nothing has happened while adjusting to getting the work done without leaving your home like normal, not go outside, not get a little break for yourself, and then adjusting everything from grocery shopping to doctors appts to fit into this new situation. Everything has been completely turned upside down and having to completely change your lifestyle within days is hard and stressful for everyone and throw in a bunch of little kids who couldn’t possibly understand this situation no matter how much you try and explain why they aren’t going to school or seeing their friends or even going to the store is an added stressor. I’m sure childless people/couples have stressors that I don’t have right now too but for parents your kids are in your face 24/7 right now when they didn’t used to be and once they are in school you don’t ever expect them to be home all the time again. Everyone’s mental health is taking a hit and I think we all need to be more supportive and caring of everyone and their situation instead of this us vs them.
I’m not addressing any commenter here with this, rather speaking from personal experience with my friends and family members. It’s a shame that so many parents by choice have to get on the bandwagon about how, as always, their lives are so much harder than for people who are child free. No matter what is going on, there is some parent stepping up to tell you how easy they think your life is and how much harder theirs is. All the time. Even in the midst of a pandemic there are those who have to make it a competition about self-sacrifice. It’s tiresome, particularly since they generally know nothing about people’s personal circumstances. I’ve said to a few friends & colleagues “you chose to have kids. We chose not to. You can speak about how difficult it is during these times – and I will always be there to listen – but NOT if you’re going to turn it into a backhanded swipe at the choices I’ve made.” That’s worked so far.
Redgrl, thank you. That’s the main thing i was getting at. Some Parents complain like they are such victims for having to tend to their own children full-time for the time being. Sure, it’s hard, but it’s not like the children were forced on you, it was life choice – a life choice that has up until now has been made to seem like the “gold standard” of being an adult. Attitude of “Oh, you’re in your 30s and you dont have kids (yet)? What’s wrong with you? Having children is the end all-be all.” LOL now at the folks who have been arrogant in that way and look down on childless adults. I do feel for families that are having trouble feeding their children right now, that is awful. This whole thing has a lot of child-free people feeling very thankful at this time I would imagine. Lots of re-evaluating if having a house full of kids is really worth it.
If I didn’t have to work a full 40-hour week from home while trying to (at least somewhat) homeschool a preteen, I wouldn’t mind AT ALL, it’s the combo that’s so hard. Like, I don’t complain that I have to be with him 24/7 when I’m on vacation lol
I completely agree with you, winniecoopersmom
I keep thinking about what all I could get done without the kids here, which is terrible. I’m no Betty Homemaker. I generally don’t cook, clean, do much housework, so to do it all for three teenagers and a two year old while my husband has been at the hospital has been a lot. His hospital finally got rapid tests which means he can come in the house again when he’s not working. It has been glorious! When he was finally able to come home, I told him good luck with all of this, grabbed a bottle of wine and my laptop and watched Bravo outside for hours. All this to say, I’m more than a little bit jealous of my childless friends who have been focusing on self care and painting their nails while in quarantine. I’ll just be over here picking Cheerios out of my hair and doing my fourth load of laundry today.
I have 3 teenagers, but my husband is home so I’m not doing everything. They do their schoolwork on their own, and I don’t really see them until about 1 or 2:00. The food situation is another issue entirely. After 2 weeks of cooking daily, I’ve decided to order out twice a week. Also made rules like no hot lunches or breakfasts. Pancakes are dinner. Grilled cheese is dinner. If I have to cook it, it’s called dinner. I feel you on the toddler, though. If this happened 10 years ago I would have had a nervous breakdown stuck at home with 3 clingy kids who only wanted me. I’m glad your husband got the rapid tests. This will end at some point, and it will be a story you tell your grandchildren.
“When he was finally able to come home, I told him good luck with all of this, grabbed a bottle of wine and my laptop and watched Bravo outside for hours”
I just wanted to say I love this.
I feel like you’ve got an extra storm going on because you have teens AND a toddler – glad you got a break and were able to just have some ‘you’ time haha.
@ Flamingo
Three teens in the house can be a huge help to you no? Now is a great time to teach them how to do laundry, clean, and cook. Those are life skills they will need in life. No reason they can’t help you !
I think you have to look at the bright side too. You have people to keep you company. You are not alone during this scary time. You have them to distract you. It can be a good thing.
They’re my step kids, so I’m a bit limited on what I can ask them to do. It’s been especially tricky with their Dad gone for weeks.
@ Flamingo
Oh ok that adds a whole new dynamic ! Either way, someone (maybe their father or bio mom) can one day teach them life skills so that you don’t have to be their slave ! I mean damn, not like they don’t have the time to help ! I feel for ya !
“For me it’s like perfect. All I want is to see everyone for 15-25 seconds. I don’t want to get too close. I’m more than happy to go out, wave to my friends, speak to them for 15 seconds and everyone can go on their merry way. I’m really built for this. The fact that I have no kids is making this truly not that bad.”
This is definitely the most I’ve ever related to Seth Rogen!
I am alone and that is really hard. I do a lot of videos with friends, but this is the first time in my life I haven’t liked living alone.
Yeah people think child-free have it easier right now. And perhaps in some aspects that’s true. But being alone makes you more anxious and scared. Your mind has more time to race. You have no kids to distract your mind for a bit. It’s hard on both ends.
I am glad to be childfree and single.
Yeah, I appreciate not having children during this. Of course, that’s just coincidence as we were planning to start trying and some things pushed it back.
I do hope though that this experience gives parents a little more understanding and empathy for teachers. Yes, a lot of parents are trying to work from home and homeschool, but you’d be very surprised how much work teachers get saddled with and very little time away from students to get it done.
In fact, hopefully this experience can remind us all to be more appreciative of many vital jobs this crisis is bringing to the forefront. Not just schools and teachers, but hospitals and health care workers, grocery stores, and nursing homes. You don’t realize until an emergency how vital some of these jobs are, and unfortunately many of them are not paid accordingly.
There are 1,000 ways to take in THC, you gotta SMOKE it? In the middle of a RESPIRATORY PANDEMIC? Have you smoked away every brain cell, Seth Rogen?
I like Seth Rogen as an entertainer but in general I get really bored with people that are in their 40s and still going on and on about how awesome recreational pot use is.
I’m so torn.
As some of you know, I retired young and am now a partner in a nice, little store: A wine & spirits store, e.g. upscale liquor store.
Don’t get me wrong! Sales are up about 50% and I’m grateful BUT how did we end up, “essential”? I’m just askin’ and no one has an answer except to say that NY and CA made them essential too. That’s not really an answer.
I can kind of understand the weed stores due to medical mj. BTW, Happy 4/20 if you’re into that and the state makes BOATLOADS of money off those.
Maybe the liquor stores are supposed to keep people from offing themselves and others and robberies or something but domestic violence here is up too. Other crime is down some.
Anyway, most of our customers don’t wear masks (we do) and they tend to get too close and we have to tell them, “6′ ! Spread out PLEASE!”, and we keep taking steps back but they don’t get it. Some are great. They use the sanitizer and paper towels and wipes and stuff that we have out and wear masks.
I think we are going to have do what the grocery stores do and limit how many people can come in at a time.
Here is my last whine: Upper middle-class, full-time moms complaining that they have had to be home with their kids for weeks (!) I stayed home with my girls for a few years after retiring and loved it but , yes, we went places and did things and I taught the older one to cook and garden and so on.
Meanwhile, my men and I are exhausted.
I’m paying extra and bonuses but we’re tired and looking forward to the end of this IF there is one. Thanks for listening.
I believe the reason alcohol shops are still open is because of alcohol dependence. Removing alcohol from alcoholics could cause a whole new health crisis.
Having one child right now is rough.
I adore my daughter but she’s bored. It’s hard on her to never see other kids and not even be able to go to the playground. I’m trying to keep her entertained but she’s still bored.
Oh man I feel for you. Having one kid would be MUCH harder than having two or three or more right now. With siblings, they fight but also entertain each other to a large extent.
I wonder if he’s seen the newest Lion King movie and how they edited out the lion’s privates.
I’m so glad I live alone and am child free during this time. I’m an introvert, so this hasn’t been too hard on me – although I have had my rough days. An extrovert friend of mine was complaining about having to stay home and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. There are worse things out there.
He was IN the Lion King movie!
My spawn are college aged. They’ve actually been fun to have around. We have a houseful with a boyfriend whose flight home was canceled so many times he’s staying with us for the foreseeable future and two friends whose parents are in Europe (one set stuck in Spain, the other set lives in London). We’ve been making music, doing art stuff (had a paint night on Friday), and cooking. They’ve also all been doing their classwork.
My youngest is a college girl too and still works 2 days per week.
She’s doing her classes on-line for now.
She’s quiet. She’s nice to have around.
You…you have teens staying at your house?
Can I have them???
If they are 21, I can hire them for temp/part-time work.
Regardless, do you have a yard?
It’s time to start mowing, trimming bushes, weed-eating, blowing the last of the dead leaves, fertilizer down, (yards are a pain) , spray new weeds, mulch down, plant summer bulbs, get flower pots ready, clean out the gutters, sweep the garage…
Perfect for teens.
My older daughter got back from Spain minutes before all this started.
There are worse places to be stuck – for sure – but I’m glad she got home in time.
Good luck to your full house!
Teaching and being a mom to a toddler is rough. He’s stuck to me like glue and it’s just us for 12hrs. My hubby still goes to work. It’s a huge struggle because I love him dearly but as an introvert I can’t handle constant interactions. Last Friday I was fried, just snuffed out. Your support system is gone, you are your child’s only interaction for hours at a time, you can’t go to any of your normal jaunts, and I have to log hours. It’s just exhausting. Complicating it is that you love your child but you can’t be there for them. They need you but you aren’t available.
I am picturing your situation and that sounds really, really tough. Nothing harder than having a toddler to entertain. Hang in their.
Thanks for the kind supportative words. I just don’t appreciate the simplistic message of: if you choose to have them don’t complain. That is a dangerous mindset. I was really looking forward to just being there for my child but nothing really evolved that way and now every minute is juggling who should get my focus.