Family Stories Focusing On Parents

Why is it that so many fictional stories, at least the ones I've read and seen, are about people anywhere from ages nine to eighteen? Not that there's anything wrong with those kinds of stories based on that fact itself, but it's still something to think about. Even the stories I've read with main characters being thirty-something years old have shown the main character only with a love interest, not a spouse and kids.

But. There is the occasional story about a mother. And those grip me like nothing else can.

Ever read The Cat's Paw? A woman's husband has disappeared, and she must search for him because the local law enforcement says no based on the fact that he's an adult. She must also keep her kids in mind, because she can't leave them just in the care of the neighbors for too long. And as if she didn't have enough problems, the stray cat that seems to have adopted her gets her accused of witchcraft.

Ever watched Wolf Children? A woman is widowed the day the couple's second son is born, and she must make every sacrifice for them. Not only that, but these children can turn into wolves at any given moment, and they don't always have control over it. So this mother has to quit her job also because she can't leave them with a babysitter, and she stays up late studying how to care for them as not only human children but also wolf pups. Eventually, they move out into the country to stay away from so many prying city eyes. It's there that the majority of the story takes place.

What about Lois Lowry's Son? The fourth book in a series, this one focuses on a young girl in a "perfect" community who was chosen as a breeder. Via a syringe to her arm, she was impregnated. When her child came, he was taken to the place where all newborns are taken, and the mothers never see them again. But the girl finds her child and helps the workers take care of him on occasion. But then, the night before the child is killed solely for not sleeping well at night, he's stolen away to save his life. The girl, fifteen years old, mother of an eighteen-month-old, decides to do the impossible - decides to find him again even though she has no idea where he went, nor even what the name was that the community had given him.

And, actually, just as I was typing this post, another story occurred to me: Disney Pixar's The Incredibles. The story centers around a family with superpowers, but they're not allowed to be superheroes because the public sued them for injury in the course of rescuing. The story follows the whole family, but focuses mainly on the dad.

Honestly, those are the only stories I can think of at the moment. Can't more writers come up with good stories suitable for younger ages focusing on parents, especially mothers? Or have they, and I just can't find them? Anyways, this is a rather longer-than-usual post, so I'll end it here. Thanks for listening to my rant.