Janine Harouni's New Show Is a Reflection on Motherhood, Family, and Authenticity
Janine Harouni returned to the stage with her latest show, "This Is What You Waited For," after taking time off to become an 18-month-old mother of a boy. The new mom weaves in stories about raising her child, navigating relationships with family members like her Lebanese- and Irish-American parents, who came to help with childcare, and sharing humorous anecdotes from her own upbringing.
Harouni's smooth delivery and measured comedy bring jokes that are both witty and poignant, touching on themes such as the challenges of gentle parenting, the struggles of being a new mom, and the complexities of family dynamics. Her humor is deftly delivered, tackling topics like sports fans' disdain for they/them pronouns and the similarities between her new baby and a colonialist Brit.
The show also takes an introspective turn as Harouni grapples with feelings of inadequacy as a mother, stemming from her relationship with her own mother. This vulnerability comes across in a particularly poignant moment where she reveals that she had never seen her mother as a person, rather than just a parent, until now.
While the show's closing moments are touching and heartfelt, there is something slightly jarring about Harouni's earlier claim to have never known her mother beyond their parental relationship. The contrast between this sentiment and the unflinching humor that precedes it serves as a reminder that even in the most controlled performances, imperfection can be just as captivating.
Ultimately, "This Is What You Waited For" is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be a new mother, an extended family member, and a comedian. Harouni's nuanced storytelling and effortless delivery make for a delightful and relatable show that will leave audiences smiling and nodding in recognition.
Janine Harouni returned to the stage with her latest show, "This Is What You Waited For," after taking time off to become an 18-month-old mother of a boy. The new mom weaves in stories about raising her child, navigating relationships with family members like her Lebanese- and Irish-American parents, who came to help with childcare, and sharing humorous anecdotes from her own upbringing.
Harouni's smooth delivery and measured comedy bring jokes that are both witty and poignant, touching on themes such as the challenges of gentle parenting, the struggles of being a new mom, and the complexities of family dynamics. Her humor is deftly delivered, tackling topics like sports fans' disdain for they/them pronouns and the similarities between her new baby and a colonialist Brit.
The show also takes an introspective turn as Harouni grapples with feelings of inadequacy as a mother, stemming from her relationship with her own mother. This vulnerability comes across in a particularly poignant moment where she reveals that she had never seen her mother as a person, rather than just a parent, until now.
While the show's closing moments are touching and heartfelt, there is something slightly jarring about Harouni's earlier claim to have never known her mother beyond their parental relationship. The contrast between this sentiment and the unflinching humor that precedes it serves as a reminder that even in the most controlled performances, imperfection can be just as captivating.
Ultimately, "This Is What You Waited For" is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be a new mother, an extended family member, and a comedian. Harouni's nuanced storytelling and effortless delivery make for a delightful and relatable show that will leave audiences smiling and nodding in recognition.
. Don't get me wrong, I love the woman's sense of humor and she's got some killer jokes 
. But isn't that just what comedians do? Draw from their own experiences to make us laugh? It feels like people are expecting her to be some kind of "authentic" mom or something, which is just unrealistic 
. Newsflash: nobody's perfect, and if she can bring the laughs while sharing her own struggles, then more power to her 
.
! I love how she talks about motherhood and family in this super authentic way. It's like, we've all been there, right? Trying to navigate our own relationships with our parents and kids, and just trying to figure it out as we go. And the humor is just great - it's not mean-spirited or anything, it's just real comedy. I do think she kinda takes a weird U-turn mid-show when talking about her mom, but overall the whole thing is so well done 
. It feels like she's really sharing herself with us, you know? And honestly, that vulnerability at the end is super powerful 
.
I'm all about giving Janine Harouni a hard pass for any perceived inconsistencies in her story 
. Her show is still super funny and endearing, but let's not sweat the small stuff, right? 
It's so refreshing to see someone tackle these heavy topics with such humor and vulnerability. And I love how she weaves in stories about her own childhood – it feels super authentic and honest. One thing that did feel a bit off was when she said she'd never known her mom beyond their parental relationship... maybe it would've been interesting to explore more of what led up to that moment? 
. Anyway, I totally relate to Janine Harouni's story - as a first-time parent myself, it feels like she's speaking directly to me (and probably many others). What I love about her show is that she doesn't shy away from the tough stuff, but at the same time has this amazing ability to find humor in even the most mundane things. It's like, who else can make jokes about changing diapers and sports fans being annoying? 
i loved how she tackled those tricky topics with humor and heart. the part where she talks about not knowing her mom as a person until now was so poignant 
its like, we've all been there, right? but what i loved most is that she didn't shy away from sharing her imperfections 
her show is literally the perfect blend of humor and heart. gotta watch this one ASAP 
... I mean, who hasn't been there, right? 
). But what really got me was when she talked about feeling inadequate as a mom... it's like, we're all winging this parenting thing, right? And that moment where she reveals not knowing her mom beyond their parental relationship is so raw and honest. It's great to see Janine being vulnerable on stage 