On Welcome to Plathville, Lydia Plath has always strived for peace in the midst of family drama and chaos. The news of her parents' separation was no exception. Even though she held out hope that the two would reconcile, she is stepping up to help her family during a difficult time.
Now that Lydia has graduated, she has a lot that she is trying to prioritize. She is working multiple jobs, at a local bank and an automotive repair shop. On top of that, she is now responsible for homeschooling her younger siblings. Even though it can be a struggle at times, she is happy to be there when her family needs her the most, even if that means putting her dreams on the back burner. Lydia told her friends that she would love to move out and possibly live in Tallahassee, but she knows that isn’t possible right now, with everything going on back home.
It's true that Kim and Barry Plath’s split was something that no one in the family saw coming, and like everyone else, Lydia is trying her best to process her emotions. While she is trying to come to terms with everything herself, she is also concerned about her younger siblings. She frequently checks in to see how they are handling everything. She is a good listener when her parents want to discuss the realities of their divorce with her, and the choices that they are making. This is undoubtedly a lot of responsibility, and she relies on her Christian faith to help her through it all. Even in the most difficult moments, she doesn’t waver in her convictions or beliefs. Oftentimes, Christianity keeps her grounded, and helps her to make sense of the things she can't control.
Since Kim started spending more time away from home, Lydia has missed having a close relationship with her mom. She admitted that they used to talk a lot, but since the separation, everything is different. Lydia is having a tough time with the whirlwind of changes, and doesn't quite know what she should do. She actively listens to her parents' struggles, but doesn’t ask too many questions, for fear of being too intrusive. When her younger sister Amber Plath told her that she asked their mom why she wasn’t the one that should move out, Lydia admitted she wouldn’t have had the guts to ask.
Although Lydia isn't a young child anymore, Kim and Barry expect a lot from her, and time will tell if she's up to the challenge. She is juggling working outside of the home, homeschooling her siblings, and managing everyone's emotions. Lydia may put on a brave face on Welcome to Plathville, but it is clear it hasn't been easy for her to cope with her parents' separation.