Worst mother ever?
Let me first start by saying I thought the movie was amazing. But Sosuke might just have the least responsible mother ever. Rather than staying in a relatively safe nursing home to wait out a violent storm, she figures it would be much safer to bring her 5 year old back to their little home that's surrounded by the ocean. On her way there, she ignores warnings of a huge wave that would easily wash her and her son away, and drives like a maniac through waist deep water. Then, when she finally reaches the "safety" of home, she decides that a bunch of seniors who are already being cared for need her more than her 5 year old son, who she leaves alone to watch a 5 year old girl (I know she's a magical fish girl, but still). This all happens in about a 15 minute span, and it doesn't even cover all of the irresponsible things she did.
Again, I absolutely loved the movie, but I have to wonder if it was Miyazaki's intention to show her as such an irresponsible mother, and if so, why?