**Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Anna Karenina is a bad mom and i'm gonna shout it!!**

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

The very first, and perhaps most quoted, line of Leo Tolstoy's 1873-1877 classic, Anna Karenina should show you that no matter what century you live in, your family is most likely dysfunctional.  In fact, the extremely maladjusted families in this book should almost make yours feel normal and happy! 

Even back then husbands and wives were unfaithful to each other.  Divorce was morally frowned upon and you were publicly shunned for being the "bad guy" in the separation. Children were merely toys to keep the wives busy while the men discussed politics while downing vodka and smoking cigars in the parlor. 

As flawed as 19th century Russia was, I can't help but feel envious of at least one thing.  The amount of respect shown to even the most hated adversary made my jaw drop.  My wife is sleeping with you good sir? Well, let me just shake your hand and beg your forgiveness for not assenting to your actions. (For example)

Wait, what?

You mean you want HIM to forgive YOU for not liking the fact that he's committing the ultimate sin with YOUR wife? Bizarre! My point is that no matter how ridiculous the situation, every character in this book was respectful to the other. Now days, people settle their disagreements by shooting each other or getting their friends together to gang up. 

If ever we need to go back to the old ways, it's in this instance.  I'm not saying not to stand up for yourself if someone has done wrong by you but don't automatically resort to violence or immaturity.  Sit down and talk it out.  We can learn a lot from history sometimes.  What to do and even sometimes what not to do. 

I am a bit disturbed regarding the actions of Anna Arkadyevna Karenina, the books' namesake.  Her husband tells her that if she continues her affair with Count Vronsky he will petition for a divorce and take her son away from her.  While being kept from her son deterred her decision for a short time, ultimately the love for her son was not enough to keep her from running away with her lover, Alexei Vronsky.  For all she knew she would never see her son again, but she went anyways. 

I cannot even fathom how a mother would make that decision.  She already had her doubts of Vronsky's feelings for her.  Basically, she made a life changing decision on what I believe was a immature little girl whim.  While traveling through Europe with Vronsky, they cannot find any new friends who are willing to accept their relationship and cannot maintain friendships with existing acquaintances because Anna has been shunned for her actions. 

She becomes very emotional and jealous over Vronsky.  She can see that he is becoming bored with her as he goes from hobby to hobby to occupy his time without much interest in her.  They decide to return to Moscow with hopes of Anna reuniting with her son.  Upon their return, she is told by her husband’s friend, a Countess, that she will not be allowed to see her son.  She immediately blames her unhappiness in the situation on Vronsky.  Um, excuse me Miss Unfaithful, but it takes two to tango!

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 Anything regarding Anna in this book gets me angry.  She acts like a child who cannot get her way.  It was her decision alone to leave her husband and her son knowing full well what the consequences would be.

When her sister in law, Dolly, visits her in the country, she seems so happy.  I'm glad that Anna is happy but at what cost?  Her son is being "raised" by a father who does not love him and only keeps him to hurt Anna.

I can understand taking your life by the reins and doing what you want.  Sometimes that’s necessary when you’re completely unhappy.  But, all I think about is her son’s unhappiness having to grow up without his mother.  When thinking of the relationship I have with my son, it hurts to think about leaving him.  Right now, he is on a trip with my parents in New York visiting family and he’ll be gone for 10 days!!  10 ridiculously long days without my little man is bad enough but to think about never seeing him again would tear me apart. 

So, if this book was a true story and I had a time machine, I would go back and tell Anna to get her mess together and be a parent, but not before stopping at Adam & Eve and getting a little electronic something for her to keep her hormones in check. 

Feel free to comment and thanks for reading!!