Mary Jane Paul, the fictional character in BET’s “Being Mary Jane,” may not have a man or kids to occupy her time, but she manages to have a full life with plenty of drama nonetheless.
The journalist and hopeless romantic, played by Gabrielle Union, may still have a lot to learn about love, men and family, but there are a few things viewers can learn from her, too. Find out what lessons can be gleaned from “Being Mary Jane.”
Curtains Are Your Friend
If your front door is made of glass, like Mary Jane’s, then it makes sense to proceed with caution when responding to a ringing doorbell, especially in the middle of the night.
While, a watering hose may work to get rid of unwanted guests in the light of day, when it’s dark outside, Mary Jane answers her door with a baseball bat in hand.
However, if a single woman really wants to monitor who comes knocking on her door, curtains or an actual door made of wood with a peephole works better. It allows you to see without being seen, and you can later claim, “Oh, I didn’t hear the doorbell. My bad.”
Investing in a few decorative blinds or curtains to cover the windows will also make those hallway lovemaking sessions a little more private.
Flush Your Own Toilet
Mary Jane knows how to prep for a late-night rendezvous. Before she gets physical with a fella, she makes sure to freshen up. She can do it in a matter of minutes!
However, she’s not quite so efficient when it comes to the post-sex clean-up. To her credit, she attempted to pick up her lover’s clothes after one night of romance, but then she got distracted by his wedding ring. Likewise, few would blame her for opting to toss her vomit-covered sheets in the trash instead of in the washing machine.
While she may be able to defend her actions in the above instances, there’s little excuse for leaving dirty condoms lying around the house after intercourse. That’s exactly what Mary Jane did and her maid was none-too-pleased. Post-sex cleanup should most definitely be handled by the participants. It’s comparable to flushing your own toilet. Handle your business.
Marital Status Matters
Some folks aren’t too particular about the marital status of sexual partners, but Mary Jane does prefer to romantically involve herself with men who don’t have wives.
Marital status also matters when it comes to how you deal with an unfaithful lover. While, Mary Jane tosses out the man who’s lied to her and broken her heart, his wife opts to keep him and continue living with her husband and father of her children.
It’s comparable to the difference between babysitting and being a parent. When your own misbehaving child acts up, you deal with it. If it’s a friend’s kid, you send her home.
Having that ring, exchanging those vows, building that life together, whether a scorned woman sticks around or not, all of that has to be taken into consideration when a husband or wife cheats.
If you’re single…not so much. Next!
Never Let ‘Em See You Sweat
Sometimes the woman who has no problem going toe-to-toe with cheating husbands, needy relatives or clueless coworkers, needs a moment to relax, relate, release.
Mary Jane knows it’s better to have a good cry—whether due to an ailing mother or a TV ad featuring cute, little babies—when no one’s looking.
However, it’s also good to have a few friends whose shoulders you can cry on or who can distract you with some healthy retail therapy.
Oh, and wine. A glass of wine helps, too.
Accept Your Truth
One thing Mary Jane is not is phony. She knows to call a booty call a booty call. She recognizes her A-cups could use some assistance, and she’s obviously aware her biological clock is ticking.
The successful single woman seemingly isn’t as interested in finding Mr. Right as she is in birthing a few babies. With that in mind, she keeps it real and decides to beat the odds anyway she can, even if that means stealing an unsuspecting man’s sperm.
Though she’s a realist, it seems she might benefit from a bit more introspection. Those inspirational quotes stuck to the mirrors only get you so far. While she’s obviously accepted the truth about her circumstances, she’s hasn’t come up with the most truthful way to deal with it. Will illegal insemination really solve her problems? Is a babydaddy the answer? Is she ready for motherhood?
The truth is, viewers will have to wait ‘til the series premiere to find out.
