Charlotte made it clear that she doesn’t want to take maternity leave on FBI: Most Wanted. That itself isn’t wrong, but the way she did it was.
Before you jump down my throat at the title, you’ll want to keep reading. You see, I’m not saying that Charlotte is wrong for not wanting to take maternity leave at all. I get it. I was that mom who didn’t want to take time off because I loved my work.
(I also had a partner like Charlotte who didn’t want to take time off either, which did lead to some resentment. There’s a reason my ex is an ex.)
However, Charlotte is wrong in the way she’s just attacked Barnes about the assumptions made on FBI: Most Wanted. Of course Barnes was going to make an assumption that the last conversation they had about Charlotte taking time off to be with the baby still stood.
Charlotte should have discussed things with Barnes on FBI: Most Wanted
Barnes was always going to assume that an agreement she and Charlotte made still stood. That’s just the way of life. Unless someone tells me that they would like to change a plan, I assume the plan is going to stand. Why would I think any differently?
Charlotte clearly has been doing some thinking. She has changed her mind about what she wants to do, especially now that she has a job that she absolutely loves. That’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with her changing her mind.
What Charlotte should have done is have a conversation with Barnes about it, though. She can’t just assume that Barnes has realized that her thoughts on the matter have changed if she’s not going to talk about it. Instead, Charlotte has gotten angry with Barnes for not being able to read her mind.
The number one thing that keeps a relationship on good terms is communication; the right type of communication. It’s about active listening; responding rather than reacting.
Charlotte could have said to Barnes that she has some thoughts about after the baby arrives. She could have suggested that they both take time off for the baby at first. Hell, she could have even opened the conversation of Barnes staying home to get an idea of how that would go down.
Charlotte is going to need some time off to recover after the birth, but no, she shouldn’t have to be the one to stay home the whole time. She just can’t assume her wife is reading her mind or on the same wavelength as her.
We’ll probably go a couple of episodes now where we don’t see this storyline come back up. I hope we see Barnes talking to Hana or Kristen about this. Maybe she can see what the two of them would do—and what Kristen did do since she has children of her own. Then we need to see Charlotte and Barnes sit down and have an actual conversation about the matter.
What did you think of Charlotte’s reaction at the end of FBI: Most Wanted? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
FBI: Most Wanted airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on CBS. Catch up the following day on Paramount+.