Hi Cranky Frank. Thanks for reading! I write a monthly column examining how motherhood is portrayed in pop culture, and the truth is, it's usually not portrayed at all.

As a mother, and one who deeply values the important of great moms (and dads!), I find the dearth of moms in cultural representation to be a subject worth raising. Every person on this planet, now and always, had a mom. But it's a relationship that gets incredibly little attention. I think that's not just fair game for critique, but of real importance for any society that wants to keep the lights on.

I'm a massive Tolkien fan, and adore Galadriel and Arwen. But facts are facts, and motherhood is absent almost entirely from LOTR. Wouldn't be a big deal if it weren't absent in almost every place too.