What is it about a vampire-werewolf-teenage schoolgirl love triangle that turns some moms to mush?
“Some” moms… hmmm… make that millions of moms.
Stephanie Meyer’s popular “Twilight” series about the mystical secrets involving Edward the vampire, Jacob the werewolf, and Bella the sweet schoolgirl loved by both of them, became an overnight success thanks in large part to the gazillions of teen fans who became enraptured by the books and subsequent big screen adaptation.
But somewhere along the way, Meyer and her vampire romance sucked in a slew of ordinary moms. Only not all of them are willing to share their weakness for Edward and Jacob as willingly as their fanatical offspring.
I happen to fall in the same category as my young daughter when it comes to knowing about the “Twilight” series. I know enough to steer clear of movie theaters for the next couple of days given the throngs of “twi-hards” that are camping out to snag tickets for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” The second installment in the “Twilight” series opens at midnight and has already drawn record crowds.
However, beyond knowing that the vampire tale slash sweeping love story regularly causes a collective frenzy among its rabid teen fans, I was completely clueless that moms were involved in the “Twilight” mania… until a few days ago.
About a week ago I was standing in the hallway of my daughter’s school waiting to pick her up from half-day kindergarten when another mom came rushing in worried that she was late to collect her son.
When I informed her that the kids were still in class she breathed a sigh of relief and sheepishly admitted that she lost track of time because she was reading in the car.
“Must be a really good book,” I said innocently.
“Yeah,” the mom hesitantly answered before coughing out: “It’s Twilight.”
Clearly the 30-something mom was concerned about how she would be perceived embracing a young-adult vampire-romance novel.
“Embracing”… hmmm… make that devouring.
According to the mom, she had become so obsessed with finishing the book that she could barely put it down. Her laundry was piling up, the beds weren’t made, the house was in shambles and her husband’s joke about not caring that she was face-planted in a book marketed to readers half her age, but “don’t forget to feed the kids,” wasn’t being delivered with the same jolly smile.
“I’m a closet Twilight fan,” the mom finally admitted. “I can’t help myself. I’m addicted.”
Apparently my fellow school mom is not alone. According to news reports, there are legions of “Twilight” fans, who are over 30 and have kids that love the books and movie as much as they do. Twilight Moms is a group 30,000 strong that travels around the country for “Twilight” conventions.
And it’s not just average stay-at-home moms obsessing about teen vampires, Kelly Ripa, co-host of TV’s “Live! With Regis and Kelly” and mom of three young kids, recently declared on-air, “I’m a Twilight Mom!”
I guess she’s out of the closet.
Are you?
Related Articles:
Would You Buy Your Preschooler a “Twilight” Barbie?
Are You A Part Of The “Bratz” Universe?
Dora the Explorer is Getting a Makeover: What’s a Parent to do?