Upamanyu Biswas
Lifetime’s ‘Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story‘ tells the story of Monique Smith, a woman subjected to years of physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the hands of a family who were not related to her. The movie delves into Monique’s life and exploits as she faces major upheaval following her discovery that she may have been taken away from her real family, which leaves her desperate for answers. In her journey, Monique acquires a new family, starting with her husband, Jonathan, and her children, Christina and Jonathan Jr. Their presence helps her find a footing in life as she tries to redefine her identity as a person and human being, even though she never gives up on searching for her real biological past. Eventually, she manages to track down her biological sibling, Ruth Harrison, allowing her to land upon the truth behind her family.
Are Christina and Jonathan Jr Based on Monique Smith’s Kids?
One of the salient aspects of Monique’s life story, as depicted in ‘Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story,’ is how she juggles motherhood alongside her personal quest to find her biological family. Despite being pulled in various directions, she still ensures that she is a loving mother first, which we witness in her interactions with her daughter Christina, AKA Chrissy, and Jonathan Jr. As the years progress, we see Monique with even more kids. Although they may have different names in the film, they are likely drawn from Monique’s four real-life kids, who are the shining beacons of her life. In her memoir, ‘I Am The Ancestor: Before I Die, I Must Share My Story,’ Monique states that one of her main reasons for penning her life story is to leave behind her past identity for her children to explore.
While she may be a public-facing figure who advocates for social change and better care for missing children around the country, Monique maintains a low profile over her personal life. Thus, specific details about her children’s lives are kept hidden for good reason. However, the movie likely takes cues from real-life interactions between Monique and her kids for some of the scenes. For instance, Jonathan Jr repeatedly asks Monique whether she can help him with the family tree project, which the protagonist continues to put off. It could be born out of a conversation Monique had with her real kids. She eventually tells them the truth about her missing parentage, which is a big part of her journey to accepting and finding the answers she needs to close one chapter of her life and begin a new one.
Is Ruth Harrison Monique Smith’s Real Sister?
In the ‘Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story,’ Monique’s search for the truth eventually lands her at the doorstep of Ruth Harrison. Ruth is one of her long-lost biological sisters and the first person to make contact with her from her real family. In reality, she is likely inspired by Veronica, Monique’s real-life biological sister. After losing touch with her old family, Monique had to move heaven and earth to find even the smallest clues with regard to her roots. However, the game changed when genealogist CeCe Moore entered the frame and provided the answers she had been seeking all her life. By diving into Monique’s DNA, CeCe found out that a woman in her 60s was looking for a death certificate for her missing baby sister. That woman was Veronica.
Monique was floored upon learning the fact that Veronica had been looking for her just as she had been searching for her own family. They eventually met one another and talked about Monique’s disappearance. According to Veronica, a young Monique was on her bed one day and vanished soon after, which left the mystery wide open. Ultimately, Monique was unable to find out exactly how another family took her in. Still, she and Veronica were among seven daughters born to Margaret Conyers, their biological mother, who reportedly passed away at the age of 34. Monique eventually united with her other biological sisters, which was likely an emotionally overwhelming moment. Thus, the character of Ruth Harrison is reasonably similar to Veronica.
Is Jonathan Based on Monique Smith’s Husband?
While ‘Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story’ portrays Monique’s life story in a fairly accurate manner, the film dramatizes certain elements, characters, and incidents for a more well-rounded narrative. Even the names of certain figures are changed, which is likely the case with Jonathan, Monique’s husband in the film. The real-life Monique maintains privacy with regard to her family’s day-to-day happenings and their identity. Thus, while Jonathan may be inspired by Monique’s real-life husband, his real name is possibly different. He plays a prominent role in Monique’s life as she tries to find the truth behind her parentage. The film showcases how they have a loving bond and great understanding with one another despite the challenges in their path.
Jonathan helps Monique realize some vital truths within the narrative, such as the importance of her children and her new family. When Monique gets drawn too far into her search for her biological roots, he helps her recalibrate, pushing back against her desperation and trying to make her realize that what she is searching for could be right in front of her. Although she gets slightly defensive about it, for good reason, she understands the value in his words and the good intentions driving them. It makes her realize that she also needs to cherish her life with her kids and husband without getting lost in her desire to know her past. Jonathan remains a stalwart presence by her side throughout her journey and her quest to be a loving mother to her kids. In real life, it is fair to assume that her husband also provided Monique with the support she needed.
Read More: Where is Monique Smith Now in Real Life?
