EVEN THE BACHELOR HAS PROBLEMS

Last night on the season finale of "The Bachelor," Brad Womack chose Emily Maynard, the single mom from Charlotte, N.C. who's tragic story of love and loss literally brought tears to my eyes each and every time she told it. I don't know if it was how perfectly put together without looking cheesy (like bachelorettes so easily do) she always was, OR the fact that she was a single mom, but I was rooting for Emily from the beginning. Sure, the fact that she seemed closed off and dull concerned me, but the old producer (Bachelor producer, in fact) knew that there HAD to be more. That this guy could not be falling in love with someone that's not giving him annnnnnnnything back.... Right?! (Of course, he is a guy. And guy's like a good chase... )

Anyway, in my mind, Emily proved she loved Brad when she grilled him on their final date about how ready he was for the "real stuff." How ready was he for emergency room visits and sleepless nights with a child? How ready was he for temper tantrums and grocery store meltdowns? Certainly, this talk is anti-bachelor on the romance front. It's not about connection and chemistry and amazing dates. It's about PARENTING and that is what is REAL. I thought it was brilliant and his reaction and anger about this topic made sense when she revealed at "After the Final Rose" that he had a temper. THAT IS NOT GOOD. But I digress...

Back to the talk about parenting... I thought it was so interesting that Brad's family liked Emily MORE when they knew she was a mom. His sister in laws admitted it made her relatable-- that she GETS it. That she's part of their club. And a club it is indeed. People on twitter and FB are slamming her, wondering where "the sweet" Emily went-- but I have to tell you, I LOVE that she said they have some things to figure out. I love that she's not willing to marry him this second. Are people forgetting she has a child? Granted, part of her reason to stall may be about the jealous feelings and the fact that he talked about how much chemistry he had with Chantal blah blah blah... But the fact that she's not going to settle and needs to see how they are in real life-- YES. Good for her. I was relieved. And as awkward and produced as the reveal about their problems, honestly, I think it was GREAT that Brad admitted it was TOUGH. That it's not fairy tales and people want it to be, but that's not the truth. To me that shows me that he actually DOES get it. That he's seeing what being in the trenches (with a single mom) is like AND that he's been through a little therapy.

Okay... A couple of random thoughts about The Bachelor in general...

• I definitely could have done without the group therapy session at the "After the Final Rose." A little cheesilicious for my taste.
• This show makes me want to whiten my teeth.
• Do you think Neil Lane really cared about Brad not proposing the first time? In any case, LOVED the ring. GORGE.
• I'm not going to lie- I liked Chantal's map of love idea that she gave to Brad on their final night. Super clever and cute. "She traveled the world for him." So great. I may have to borrow that idea. Though the map of Los Angeles is kind of unimpressive.
• Does anyone want to just take a moment to say WTF about Chantal's nouveau riche family? With her outfits, I have to admit, I didn't see that comin'!
• My money is on Ashley (bad eyebrow, weird cheek biting, Ashley) for the next Bachelorette. Any takers?