Heartbreaking fan theory about Bluey's mom Chilli is making the character more relatable for parents

Cartoon aficionados might be familiar with the hit animated television series "Bluey." The show—which follows an overenthusiastic and imaginative Blue Heeler puppy—is admired by both children and adults for its amusing and often vulnerable depiction of what it means to be a family. The canine family consists of Bluey and her younger sister Bingo Heeler, their mother Chilli and their father Bandit. Chilli in particular has received accolades for her character's genuine portrayal of parenting. She was even the cover model for InStyle Australia's February 2023 issue, which dubbed the cartoon mom as "the matriarch of the biggest and most famous Australian television export of all time." 

However, fans on social media seem to have noticed something heartbreakingly relatable about Chilli. A Bluey fan on TikTok, @asheleyspam, recorded her reaction to an episode of the popular cartoon. She seemed to have made a shocking realization and felt like sharing it with the community. "It took me 9 years to realize Bluey’s mom is secretly very sad," the text overlay in the video read. "And it’s okay to be sad," Asheley Baca captioned the post.

Chilli happens to be a popular character in the cartoon show and has been able to become a relatable figure for many women and parents. Just like Baca mentioned, many users took note of how Bluey's mom exhibited a certain kind of sadness in that particular episode titled "Relax." The TikTok video features Bluey asking Chilli about the book she was reading. The mom replies that the book is about "how to be happy." In the following clip, we can see Chilli sitting on the beach alone and telling herself, "Okay, time to relax."

But she does the complete opposite and Chilli returns home from the beach. "I don’t know how to relax," she tells her husband Bandit. "It’s harder than it looks," Chilli says while getting a hug from him. Her inability to find a moment of peace for herself has resonated with countless moms who face the same situation on a daily basis. Some moms dedicate themselves to their families and kids only to forget to take time out for themselves. In a second footage of the episode called 'The Beach,' Chilli informs her family that "she is just going out for a walk along the beach."

"Why do you like walking by yourself?" Bluey questions. "Not sure, actually. I just do," Chilli replies. This scene proves that whether it is a dog or a human, every mother needs a break for themselves. According to the InStyle Australia February 2023 cover story, the episode titled "Bedroom" in season three also hints at Chilli possibly having experienced pregnancy loss. The subtle detail touched millions of hearts. TikTok users left some thoughtful comments on the video as well.

@mamatwin90 wrote: "I think she’s like a lot of moms trying to find herself love again after kids." @momma.chaos admitted that "she has cried on more episodes of Bluey than any other show." @i_boop_ur_nose_boop added: "I really believe that she shows us gracefully how to find beauty in the struggle. Finding the joy in the mess and toughness of motherhood." All in all, it's fair to say that even a cartoon character can bring us face to face with some relatable struggles of our daily life.