I really like Phaedra Parks’ class, sophistication and provocative attitude. This entertainment attorney in Atlanta steals the show on the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” every week.
Some people view Parks as a shallow, dizzy and arrogant Southern belle, but I believe she is actually the opposite. Parks is good at what she does, in that she provides us with the imagery that many viewers just love to hate. Moreover, she keeps viewers coming back for more of the “Atlanta Housewives” drama. For example, if you took Parks’ story line out of “RHOA,” I believe that the ratings for this show would plummet drastically.
A lot of people are now opining that Parks has little or no “maternal instinct.” I don’t believe this is true because I have observed how she tracks and looks at her child, which is indicative of a strong connection. Yes, she makes off-the-wall statements sometimes (“I’m sort of chained to this baby, and we will see how this works out”), but that is just her communication style and a defensive mechanism to cover up her fear of being an unsuccessful mother.
So why is Parks perceived by some as an aloof and distant mother? In my clinical opinion there are two reasons: (1) Parks is afraid of failing; and (2) she needs time to develop her maternal instincts. But in my opinion, Parks has what it takes to be a great mother. By the way, Parks and her husband, Apollo Nida, will provide a perfect balance for this child. What she is seemingly missing — in the jury of public opinion — her husband certainly provides. However, because she is a mother of advanced age (not a bad thing) this part of her psyche now has to be developed. Remember, human development takes place over time and is certainly intertwined with our experiences. Some things, such as motherhood, require training through one’s environment.
I’m sure Parks will continue to bond with her new baby. This is not an easy process, but I believe Parks is smart, and she certainly understands the concept of nature versus nurture. If you don’t believe me, just watch the interactions between Parks and her own mother. They clearly enjoy and love each other.
I give Parks a B+ as a new 21st century working mother.
–dr. o
Dr. Dwight Owens is a practicing psychiatrist in Atlanta. Visit him online at askdro.com.
