A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again – Proverbs 19:19
“I didn’t agree to work with your son. I agreed to work with you… Rob-Will is a mistake, and he is a liability.” This disparaging assessment from episode 8 of Dutton Ranch is the most recent character portrait to describe a significant presence since the western series’ debut. Rob-Will, Beulah Jackson’s only biological son, has unapologetically sought to be an embarrassment for her ranch—the 10 Petal—and its legacy. Yet, despite Beulah’s knowledge of her son’s deplorable behavior, she has continued to employ means to cover up his illicit activities.
If I were to summarize lessons learned from Beulah’s parenting skills, it would be this: One of the greatest challenges a parent will ever face is recognizing the cord in their hand and deciphering its two ends—supporter or enabler. It’s having the wisdom to cut off the wrong end. This dynamic is frequently reflected in single-parent households where the need to compensate for an absent parent impairs judgment. It can also exist, as in Beulah’s case, when a pregnancy occurs during a traumatic event, causing the child’s upbringing to be influenced by guilt.
As a parent, I, too, have discovered the tightrope that comes with applying the idiom: “cutting the cord” to ensure a child’s growth and healthy independence. However, the same determination of whether to be a supporter or enabler is important in other relationships as well, and when it’s necessary to cut the cord.