GoneTrending

Many travelers find themselves in Scottsdale, Arizona for its very non-desert-ish golf courses, vibrant nightlife, pro sporting events, and luxurious resort pools. But this arid escape is a hub for outdoor adventure, too. I recently got a taste of some of the nature-filled, adrenaline-fueled experiences on offer in Scottsdale and found myself surprised and thrilled.

From off-roading through majestic desert landscapes speckled with cacti to crawling the Old Town district bars to soaring through the clear skies in a hot air balloon, Scottsdale and its surrounding areas will satisfy travelers’ craving for adventure. Check out my favorite experiences below.

Desert Dog Outdoor Adventures

If you want to feel like a badass, book a tour with Desert Dog Offroad Adventures. You’ll drive an 800cc 2-seat ATV through the Sonoran Desert, taking in the desolate yet uniquely beautiful scenery while handling your sand buggy like a boss. Your tour guides will lead you on a track through rock gardens (it gets bumpy, but that’s the fun part), sandy washes, canyons, and past cacti and native flora and fauna. The tour lasts about two hours and the starting location is just outside Scottsdale.

This tour was incredibly fun and it’s great for all levels of adventure seekers. I couldn’t help but sing “Ridin’” by Chamillionaire throughout the tour as we were literally “ridin’ dirty” — ATVing our way through the dusty desert landscapes. And you will be covered in dust from head to toe by the end, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting trashed for the day.

Tip: It’s hot out there in the open desert, and you’ll be in direct sunlight for the full two hours. Bring sunglasses and wear plenty of SPF. The Desert Dog team will provide you with a bandana to barricade the dust — it’s a branded bandana, so you can go home with a souvenir. Plus, they’ll provide you with a water bottle and snacks to hold you over.

Book your Desert Dog ATV tour here.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

Imagine watching the sun steadily ascending from behind a distant mountain as you overlook the expansive desert floor speckled with green cacti, big boulders, and the occasional Joshua tree. Pretty damn beautiful, right? If that sounds up your alley, book a sunrise tour with Hot Air Expeditions.

There are a few things to keep in mind before booking your balloon ride. For one, you need to be prepared for an early wakeup call. Since most hot air balloon rides happen at sunrise, the team will have to pick you up from your hotel or Airbnb by about 4:30 a.m. I also recommend booking your tour for the first day of your trip, as cancellations are pretty common due to weather conditions. I know from first-hand experience what a bummer it is to wake up at 4 a.m. just to be told that the one travel experience I’ve had on my vision board all year is, in fact, not happening. Sigh.

But if you book your ride at the beginning of your trip and it gets canceled, you’ll have every morning after that to try again (as long as there’s room). And don’t worry, if the weather keeps you from riding at all, you’ll get fully refunded. The bottom line, though, is that the chance of soaring through the sky in a giant balloon and the awe-inspiring views that come with it are worth the early wake-up call and risk of disappointment.

Book your hot air balloon ride here.

Hike the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

There is no shortage of hiking trails in the desert, but if you want to immerse yourself in nature and take the path (slightly) less traveled, make your way to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This is a protected, sustainable desert habitat in Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountains and the Sonoran Desert. There are more than 10 trailhead locations and more than 225 miles of trails across 35,500 acres. But the main entrance to the preserve is at the Gateway Trailhead, a 4.5-mile loop with an elevation gain of 650 feet. (Trailhead address: 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale)

It’s a moderately difficult trail, but hikers of all levels can enjoy the wildflowers and wildlife found throughout the preserve. And if you’d rather go out in the wilderness with an experienced local, you can also opt for a guided hiking tour.

Learn more about trails and safety at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve here.

Wander Through Old Town Scottsdale

Walking through Old Town Scottsdale is an adventure of its own. Whether you’re perusing boutique shops, bar hopping through the bustling nightlife scene, checking out local events, or testing out the diverse selection of restaurants, Old Town offers the ultimate downtown experience but with a more intimate feel. It swaps massive skyscrapers for rustic, western buildings.

Go wine tasting at Merkin Vineyards, a rock & roll-inspired wine room created by Maynard James Keenan, the lead singer of Tool. Search for crystal jewelry and spiritual healing at Earthen Rare. Or opt for a boozy brunch at Farm & Craft, which serves healthy and sustainable food. (You know, to balance out your breakfast cocktail.) You certainly won’t get bored wandering through Old Town, no matter what time of day it is.

Check out more of Old Town Scottsdale here.

Expand Your Palate at The Mission

There’s nothing like a full belly and a strong cocktail to end a day in the desert. Located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, The Mission serves modern Latin cuisine. Led by renowned Chef Matt Carter, the menu is a fusion of flavors with influences from Spain, Mexico, Central America, and South America. It’s confusing and utterly satisfying all at once. Of course, you have to order the tableside guac, but The Mission’s dishes go far beyond your typical Mexican-American classics.

I reluctantly trusted my waiter’s recommendation of the Duck Carnitas Empanada, which is filled with duck confit, foie gras, orange habanero glaze, oregano, mushroom, and queso Oaxaca. I know…it’s quite the concoction. This isn’t something I’d normally order but I’m so glad I did. I also tried the Almejas Al Vapor, a Peruvian clam stew of rock shrimp, chorizo, ají amarillo, and roasted corn. You can also enjoy a selection of tacos, traditional entrées, and sides.

Make a reservation at The Mission here.

Wind Down at Royal Palms Resort

After a day full of non-stop adventure, it’s nice to have somewhere serene to wind down and recover. That’s what you’ll find at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, which was originally a Spanish Colonial Revival villa. The moment I checked into my room, I felt immediately calm thanks to the quiet atmosphere, desert florals, the subtle sound of trickling fountains, and the property’s earthy Mediterranean aesthetic. Coming back here after hours in the sun each day felt like a cleansing exhale.

During your stay, you’ll have to take a dip and lounge by the pool, where you’ll get poolside service, frozen cocktails, and a full menu of appetizers, entrees, and sweets. If you want some major post-adventure relaxation, head to the spa and bask in the healing properties of the desert. You can choose from a variety of massage options, facials, and other body treatments. Royal Palms also offers weekend yoga classes if you need some mindful movement and recovery.

Wednesday has been a juggernaut hit for Netflix, and the streamer is acknowledging that fact by giving the Jenna Ortega series an exceedingly rare honor that it’s only bestowed upon Stranger Things and The Witcher: A physical home video release.

According to Gizmodo, Wednesday Season 1 will be available on Blu-Ray and DVD on March 26. Normally, Netflix is in the business of keeping its original series exclusive to its platform, but in this case, a physical release makes sense. Wednesday has been a smash hit and widening its audiences will only benefit Netflix down the road when the highly anticipated Season 2 finally arrives.

Granted, Wednesday Season 2 is a ways off thanks to the writers and actors strike delaying production until Spring 2024, but a spiffy home video release is one way to tide fans over until they’re reunited with Ortega’s gothic little mystery solver.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Wednesday is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday’s attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

Wednesday Season 1 scares its way onto Blu-Ray and DVD on March 26, 2024.

(Via Gizmodo)

Tina Fey is reuniting with longtime collaborators Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield for a new series called The Four Seasons, not to be confused with that other place. The series, co-created and starring Fey, was given an eight-episode order on Netflix.

This will be Fey’s first starring role since Liz Lemon was seen sulking around 30 Rock, but she is no stranger to Netflix, where she co-created Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Season three of Girls5Eva, executive produced by Fey, is also heading to the streamer this year. She’s had various appearances in other comedies over the years, including Only Murders in the Building and a particularly gut-wrenching episode of Bob’s Burgers.

The series will be an adaptation of the 1981 movie of the same name starring Alan Alda and Carol Burnett. According to the official logline of the original film: “Three couples vacation together every season. After one divorces, feelings of betrayal and more spawn criticisms of one another, but the things that keep them together are stronger than those which might pull them apart.”

No other casting announcements have been made at this time, but let’s consider the options! Fey frequently enlists Jon Hamm for her projects, so maybe we’ll get to see him after he wraps up his stint on Fargo. Of course, we can always hope for a Fey/Poehler reunion, which is sure to happen one of these days, right? And maybe she’ll call in Matt Damon, just for some laughs.

(Via Variety)

In July 2023, the music community was shattered by news of “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer Sinéad O’Connor’s death. Fellow recording artists like Phoebe Bridgers and O’Connor’s former colleagues rushed to release statements regarding her life’s work. Sadly, in November, The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan died. As artists penned touching notes about MacGowan, they often referenced his longstanding friendship with O’Connor.

Come March, the duo will receive the grand musical tribute they deserve. On March 20, the Sinéad & Shane tribute concert is set to fill out New York’s Carnegie Hall. Shortly after the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, musicians Cat Power, Glen Hansard, Dropkick Murphys, The Mountain Goats, Amanda Palmer, and David Gray will honor the late Irish entertainers with covers of their past works.

Others slated to perform include Bettye Lavette, Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz, Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming, Kat Edmonson, and the Resistance Revival Chorus. Event organizers have teased that the all-star lineup is set to grow. Further performer announcements will be released closer to the event.

In alignment with the musicians’ activism work, the organizers also noted that all net proceeds from the tribute will be donated to the organization PEN American. Tickets are on sale now. Find more information here.

Everything seems to be coming up Barry Keoghan these days. The Irish actor-bloke nearly died from flesh-eating bacteria before earning an Oscar nomination for The Banshees Of Inisherin. He did a salacious bathtub thing and danced naked at the end of Saltburn, which you shouldn’t watch with your parents. He will soon apparently star in a movie with The Weeknd (along with Jenna Ortega), which could be… controversial, given that The Weeknd co-wrote the project, and surely, you’ve heard about The Idol. Keoghan also has a prominent role in Apple TV+’s upcoming Masters Of The Air.

Additionally, Keoghan isn’t too far removed from his brief turn as a particularly horrific looking Joker in the Robert Pattinson-starring The Batman. Speaking of which, there were *three* Jokers (including Joaquin Phoenix and Jared Leto, and Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan did reference Heath Ledger during an acceptance speech, too) present at this year’s Golden Globes ceremony, and two of them posed together. Courtesy of Keoghan’s Instagram, here he is “[j]ust havin’ a laugh” with a clown emoji and Phoenix, who will soon star in Joker: Folie à Deux with Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn:

It’s simply a quick, casual photo with a fellow actor who happens to portray the same DC-based comic-book character. No biggie, right? Except that there was also the Leto/Suicide Squad joker floating around, too, and the omission feels notable. Leto did, however, star in a screencap that went viral.

He looks happy, though?

To recap: Phoenix’s Joker will arrive again in theaters on October 4. Leto recently climbed the Empire State Building and dressed up like a giant cat. And Keoghan will be seen next in Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s Masters Of The Air, launching on January 26. Whew.

Jay-Z recently chatted with Entertainment Tonight about the possibility of if he would ever do the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Although he performed before the Super Bowl in 2011 and joined as the NFL’s music entertainment strategist, he has yet to play the halftime by himself.

As it turns out, he still is on the fence.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I thought it would be selfish to pick myself too early. Maybe one year. Maybe.”

However, Jay-Z praised this year’s pick, as Usher will be performing when the Super Bowl is held in Las Vegas.

“I think he’s gonna take his rightful place,” Jay-Z added. “He’s one of the greatest performers we’ve seen in our time, and I think he’ll take his rightful place.”

Back in 2020, Jay-Z also revealed to The New York Times that the NFL had asked him to do a halftime show, but he turned it down after they wanted him to bring Rihanna and Kanye West to perform with him.

“Of course I would have,” he shared about the opportunity. “But I said, ‘No, you get me.’ That is not how you go about it, telling someone that they’re going to do the halftime show contingent on who they bring. I said forget it. It was a principle thing.”

Still, hopefully fans get to experience Jay-Z’s halftime show the way he wants it to be.

If Aaron Rodgers hadn’t ruptured his Achilles tendon on only the fourth offensive snap of his tenure as the quarterback of the New York Jets, maybe he would have been too busy to suggest that Jimmy Kimmel was linked to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein? Alas, he got injured and here we are.

Responding to the allegation, Kimmel said during Monday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live that Rodgers “genuinely thinks that because God gave him the ability to throw a ball, he’s smarter than everybody else. The idea that his brain is just average is unfathomable to him. We learned during COVID somehow he knows more about science than scientists.” Kimmel is willing to “accept his apology and move on,” but Rodgers isn’t saying sorry.

“A lot of people, and I’m quoting myself, ‘A lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, are really hoping that [list] doesn’t come out. End quote,” Rodgers said during The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, according to Deadline. “I was referring to the fact that if there is a list, which again hasn’t come out yet, this was just a deposition.” He added, “I’m glad Jimmy is not on the list. I really am. I don’t think he’s the P-word.”

“I totally understand how serious allegations of pedophilia would be. So for him to be upset about that, I get it. I’m not stupid enough, even though you think I’m an idiot and you made a lot of comments about my intelligence, but I’m not stupid enough to accuse you of that with absolutely zero evidence. That’s ridiculous.”

Rodgers also came with quips. “It’s impressive that a man who went to Arizona State and has 10 joke writers can read off a prompter,” he said. “My education at [junior college] and my three semesters at Cal, that I’m very proud of, has worked out for me and I’m glad to see it’s worked out for him as well. I wish him the best. Again, I don’t give a sh*t what he says about me. As long as he understands what I actually said and that I’m not accusing him of being on a list, then I’m all for moving forward.”

Rodgers explained his ill will towards Kimmel comes from the late-night host previously “[ripping] me about [the COVID vaccine] and that turns out to be an L on many occasions because the vax was not safe and effective like we were told it was in the beginning. There are a lot of injuries that we’ve seen related to the vaccine.” (No there aren’t.) He then went after Dr. Anthony Fauci, which is a thing we’re apparently still doing in 2024, calling him “one of the biggest spreaders of misinformation during COVID times.”

Even the YouTube commentators, of all people, are tired of Rodgers:

(Via Deadline)

Taylor Swift has been enjoying a well-earned break over the winter/holiday months before the Eras Tour kicks off again in March. Swift has been cheering on her boyfriend at NFL games, attending holiday parties in Kansas City, and hanging with her whole crew on her birthday … almost always with a drink nearby. According to US Weekly, throughout it all, Swift has a new “favorite cocktail” and it’s a very niche and nuanced sipper — the French Blonde.

The French Blonde falls into the early aughts resurgence of cocktail culture — the key giveaway is the use of elderflower liqueur St. Germain. Beyond that, the drink is a shaker that’s part Red Head, part Greyhound, and 100% fresh thanks to vibrant grapefruit juice and dry gin. It’s also not to be confused with the Parisian Blonde which is more akin to a Brandy Alexander (so cream-based).

Since this is a new fav of Swift, I thought I’d break down how to make the tasty cocktail below. Admittedly, this is a kind of fussy cocktail. Some of the ingredients are a tad harder to find and a trip to a very good liquor store will be in order (I link to everything hard to find below for delivery too). Fussiness aside, this is a very tasty, light yet deep, and balanced cocktail that’s — thankfully — not overly sweet.

Let’s dive in!

• These *Real* Strawberry Margarita Recipes Are Exactly What You Need This Weekend
• The Bourbon Smash Is Our Official Labor Day Weekend Cocktail — Here’s The Recipe
• Learn To Make These Essential Bourbon Cocktails For Bourbon Heritage Month
• The Rusty Nail Is The Only Cocktail Recipe You Need This Thanksgiving
• This Chocolate Orange Bourbon Old Fashioned Is Halloween In A Glass

French Blonde

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. London dry gin
• 2 oz. Lillet Blanc
• 0.5 oz. St. Germain
• 2 oz. fresh and strained grapefruit juice
• 2 dashes of lemon bitters
• Grapefruit peel
• Ice

Bombay London Dry Gin is a great cocktail gin that’s both affordable and available pretty much everywhere. St. Germain (elderflower liqueur) should also be available at most decent liquor stores in large 750ml, 375ml, and small 200ml bottles. Since this is a pretty niche additive for cocktails, I’d recommend grabbing the smaller bottle so that it doesn’t just sit on your shelf for months (or years).

Or, if you’re a huge Swift fan, grab the big bottle and go all in.

Lillet Blanc is a French aperitif that’s in the same vein as fortified wines like vermouth (and it’s usually used in the same way in cocktails). In a pinch, you can use dry vermouth, but you won’t be getting the same subtle sweetness and hint of bitter quinine. Plus, a good liquor store should carry Lillet.

Lastly, there’s the lemon bitters. Only really good full-service liquor stores will carry this. So you might want to just order it online and save a trip to, like, all the liquor stores in your town searching for it.

What You’ll Need:

• Coupe (prechilled)
• Cocktail shaker
• Cocktail strainer
• Jigger
• Fine mesh strainer
• Paring knife
• Hand juicer

Method:

• Add the gin, Lillet, St. Germain, grapefruit juice, and bitters to a cocktail shaker. Add a large handful of ice, affix the lid, and then shake vigorously until the cocktail shaker is ice-cold to touch.
• Fetch the glass from the freezer and double strain (with the cocktail strainer and fine mesh strainer) into the cocktail glass.
• Express the oils from the grapefruit peel over the glass and discard. Serve.

Bottom Line:

This is bright and super refreshing, which is a great feel for January sipping. It’s a great change of pace from the heavy winter cocktails that dominate the colder months, and it kind of feels like a good low(ish) alcohol cocktail for a “damp” January.

The grapefruit and lemon bitters make this cocktail pop on the palate. It’s truly vibrant in every way. The gin is there with a fleeting sense of botanicals, but it is never overpowering — you barely get juniper at all.

The overall vibe is soft yet bright and well-balanced between bitter, botanical, herbal, and barley sweetened — the sweetness only comes through with the Lillet and grapefruit (which is one of the sweeter citruses). For my palate, I have to say — it’s a pretty nice sipper.

Hidden Track: Vodka Diet Coke

So this — vodka and Diet Coke — is classically considered Taylor Swift’s favorite cocktail. Watch the video above again. She clearly actually drinks this. Which… are celebrities keeping Diet Coke alive? Why not Coke Zero? I digress.

Anyway, this is a super easy highball that anyone can make in an instant.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. vodka
• 4 oz. Diet Coke
• Ice
• Lemon wedge

These are easily sourceable ingredients from any store.

What You’ll Need:

• Highball glass
• Jigger
• Paring knife
• Straw

Method:

• Fill the highball glass with ice. Pour the vodka over the ice and top with Diet Coke.
• Slice a wedge from a lemon and pop it on the glass with a straw. Serve.

Bottom Line:

Okay, bear with me. I like this a lot more than the French Blonde. There’s something that vodka does to amp up the Diet Coke that just works. It’s fresh and vibrant while feeling like a sneaky treat with a hint of alcohol lurking beneath it all. You get the loving feel of the Coke without that acrid Diet Coke taste, which feels kind of like a magic trick. I can see drinking these all the time as end-of-day relaxation highballs, weekend brunch sippers, or just in general — which is saying a lot as I famously hate Diet Coke.

Nice one, Swift.

You might not know it from the trailers, but the new Mean Girls movie is actually a musical, based on the pretty popular Broadway production. So, yes, it’s a little weird that they aren’t leaning into the musical aspect of it, especially because a Gen Z pop star is leading the cast. But maybe that’s because we all know how long Broadway shows can be, and nobody wants to sit through three hours of teen angst.

The new Mean Girls film clocks in at 112 minutes, which is significantly less than the Broadway musical, but it’s still enough to make fetch happen.

The film brings back Tina Fey and Tim Meadows as the exhausted school admins who have to deal with these petty teens, played by Renee Rapp, Angourie Rice, Auli’i Cravalho, and Jaquel Spivey. Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, and Jon Hamm also star.

Here is the official synopsis:

From the comedic mind of Tina Fey comes a new twist on the modern classic, Mean Girls. New student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika). However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.

You can catch Mean Girls in theaters on January 12th. Grool!

Parenting is difficult, not only because raising unique human beings through childhood and beyond is complex on every level, but because it’s hard to know if you’re doing it right. And the internet definitely doesn’t help on that front, as everyone has an opinion on what constitutes good parenting.

Case in point: A mom who makes her teen son’s bed and picks up his clothes for him after she drops him off at school every morning.

Shannon Tarkey a mother of five (including triplets), shared a video on Instagram and Facebook showing how she makes her son’s bed and picks up his clothes, and people had feelings about it. The text overlay on the video as she’s tidying up reads:

---

“I started doing this every morning for my teenager. Not because he won’t do it. Not because I do everything for him. But because teenagers are now growing up in a very strange and complicated world and I want him to feel at peace when he comes home.

People’s reactions to the video were sometimes drastically different, with some believing she was setting him up to be an entitled husband.

For instance, one commenter on Instagram wrote, “Ooooh he gonna make his wife so furious one day expecting a clean house but not helping.”

Another added, “Although this is very kind and sweet of you, when he gets married he will think this is also what his wife should do for him. I married a man who thought I was supposed to be just like his mom. It took many years for my husband to learn to serve in the home.”

However, others shared that they do similar things for their own kids or that their moms did those things for them and are grateful for the loving-kindness being expressed through such acts of service.

“My baby is 15 and after she leaves for school I clean her room,” shared one mom. “I plug up her iPad/Mac etc so they are charged and ready for when she comes home. I make breakfast, lunch, iron outfits, comb hair, and anything else I think she needs from me. She has years as an adult but her time as a child is limited.”

Another person added, “My Mother used to do that for me and said the same thing. I tried to do the same. There is plenty of time to be an adult…”

The comments go back and forth between people praising Tarkey for showing her son what kindness and caring for others looks like and people saying she was teaching her son that a woman will always clean up after him.

In the caption of the photo, Tarkey explained in more detail why she does this for her son after dropping him off at school:

“He has his own chores and has been taught his entire life to clean up after himself. But when he’s getting himself up early in the mornings and rushing off to school this is something I’ve come to enjoy doing for him. This way when he gets home he can get his homework done in his room and just relax. There’s plenty of other things Austin helps with around the house, and I can only imagine what it’s like being a teenager in today’s world. It is my job to make my children feel at peace so if it’s picking up a few pieces of clothes or making his bed then I am more than happy to do it for him.”

In the comments she shared that her son also helps with cooking and gardening, cares for the family animals, vacuums and organizes his room and has developed all kinds of life skills—fishing, hunting, car repair—most kids don’t have. She clarified that he does make his own bed some days and on weekends. “But when he’s rushed out for school I am not going to harp on him when he gets home when he’s incredibly responsible as it is,” she wrote. “He has plenty of chores and he’s also GRATEFUL I do this for him.”

The differing opinions in the comments are fascinating in that they offer an insight into how people view the balance between having expectations for our kids and being an example of caring and kindness. Naturally, people brought their own backgrounds and experiences into their opinions, sometimes without having all the information about this particular home and parenting dynamic, so it’s not all about this one mom and her son. But what one person sees as kindness, another might see as enabling. And in reality, they might be right or they might be wrong, depending on the circumstances.

Whether this teenage boy grows up to expect his wife to clean up after him or grows up to follow his mother’s example of caring for our loved ones depends on lots of factors—how such things are talked about in the home, the values instilled in him, the kid’s personality, how other responsibilities are handled and more.

What do you think? Does her reasoning make sense?