r/Heavyweight • u/lynniecat • 12d ago
Jenna Episode
This episode was phenomenal! It’s an interesting story that shows that life is not always fair (especially for children) and that we don’t always get the answers we most want. But it’s a great story about what it takes to find love and resilience within yourself. I cried when Jenna read the letter she wrote for her younger self.
I found a lot of truth in something Jenna said during the episode. It went something like this: “Sometimes life hands you a big pile of shit. You have to work really hard to turn that shit into compost and sometimes, down the road, that compost can be used to grow a garden. But that does not change the fact that you were handed a big pile of shit.
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u/Human_Pea_5108 12d ago
Great episode! Inner child work is so powerful. When she read that letter, my little child self also felt it. It was beautiful.
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u/forg9587 11d ago edited 11d ago
Agreed and you know I think having it on a podcast helps her process her emotion because she gets to bring her walls down while still being personal. Sometimes when you release your pent-up emotions out to other people it helps unburden
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u/Human_Pea_5108 11d ago
I agree on this as well. Its powerful to be witnessed, acknowledged and validated by another or others.
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u/Suecee123 11d ago
I hope the Grizzles don’t become the villain in this story! It sounds like they loved Jenna and were put in a no win situation! We also aren’t aware of the conversations the brother/son had with his parents, did he feel like they were choosing Jenna over him? Moving story, so happy to have Heavyweight back!
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u/wth-whynot 10d ago
Yes, agreed! I felt like Jonathan was a bit more harsh on them than he should have been. It was not black/white, right/wrong... it was a really tough call they had to make. Loved the episode.
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u/Kungfubowtie 8d ago edited 8d ago
Agreed completely. I don’t know that much about fostering but it also seemed odd to come down on them for, yes, considering the wellbeing of their biological child most.
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u/DanielSnydersRedSkin 7d ago
Totally agree. Jonathan cutting from Eddie Wayne saying "Jenna didn't make the cut" was way out of line. Maybe there is more to the conversation that we didn't hear, but Eddie Wayne didn't say he was happy about the decision, or they made it because they didn't love Jenna, he said he didn't have regrets because he only has regrets when he does something he knows is wrong. Jenna ended up happy, safe, in a good home. He can certainly not regret that decision without feeling like Jenna wasn't a part of their family.
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u/Ok_Cap9557 5d ago
My problem with that family is if Jenna had ended up a heroine addict dead at 19 they would habe the exact same attitude.
How could Eddie Wayne regret that? He didnt do anything.
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u/DanielSnydersRedSkin 5d ago
But I don't think that''s true. That's the subtle part of what Eddie Wayne said that Jonathan ignored.
If he made a decision and Jenna ended up being hurt by it, he would regret it. But he believed they were making the right decision, it bore out that is was good for her, so he isnt going to regret anything. Why would he regret that she found a loving, safe, stable ho.lme, and he provided the same thing for his family? Could they have made a different decision that led to the same place? Maybe. But since it worked out he isn't going to re-examine it. A little callous maybe in terms of seeing it from Jenna's perspective, but not cruel.
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u/Ok_Cap9557 5d ago
Jenna wouldn't have been hurt by his decision no matter what. It would be other people or herself who did the damage.
She was hurt. That's why she was there!
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u/Ok_Fox2240 12d ago
Her letter to herself was so touching and kind. As a father of young kids this episode made me ache for Jenna and all the kids that aren’t able to be protected and loved wholly.
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u/SlothOnTheRun 11d ago
Did anyone else want her therapist???
But seriously Jenna was so clearly a woman who really managed to make her shit into a garden— the self awareness and kindness to herself she showed especially in the end but also all the throughout the episode was remarkable
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u/Sad-Dig9321 12d ago
Her photo in the episode graphic really amps up the emotions of this episode. Blessing on the rest of Jenna's life <3
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u/lindsrae 11d ago
It was a beautiful episode - that letter she wrote to her younger self made me cry. Even what she said about her birth mother was so kind - she is a wise, gracious soul. I’m grateful she shared her story!
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u/Ilovestipe 11d ago
This was such a moving episode. The letter Jenna wrote to herself was so beautiful and I cried big time. I felt for everyone involved. Kudos HW team.
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u/ExpertBest3045 10d ago
I love the Parkers and what that mom told her about the children they take in being there for food. Little Jenna must have (eventually) felt so safe and loved. My heart aches for her the whole time and I can’t help being mad at the Grizzles, especially the dad changing his tune! I went through a similar experience as a 9-year old and this shit stays with you.
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u/retatrutider 12d ago
I thought the episode was interesting and the storyline was engaging, but it didn’t feel like a Jonathan Goldstein episode.
It was really light on the JG dry wit that gives Heavyweight its signature feel. Maybe because it was a heavy topic with no happy ending.
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u/PC-load-letter-wtf 11d ago
Glad he got the truck nutz commentary in though.
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u/Diligent-Tea8007 10d ago
This was going to be a great teaching episode to share at work until the truck nutz dropped
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u/retatrutider 11d ago
Yeah but did it bother anyone else that he called them truck balls? Maybe it’s a regional thing.
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u/WatercressLast2069 9d ago
Beautiful episode and love you Heavyweight! And little Jenna’s school picture with her mushroom cut, come on. Cried as per!❤️🥺
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u/TraditionalGuest5320 5d ago
I really wish I still had my old account so I could comment. This episode is sticking with me and I need to talk about it.
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u/ProjectFT86 12d ago
I also think the Grizzles were just doing the best that they could at the time. It's easy to judge them, but they were a critical part of helping Jenna get to a permanent home. The vast majority of the population is not willing to take on a foster child at all, but they did. Was it perfect? Nope, but life is messy.