I had a lot of trouble with the storyline for that reason. Even somone as self-centered as Betty Draper wouldn't have gone to Reno two weeks before Christmas, especially when the President had just been shot.

The final two scenes may have been after the holidays; I had not really thought about it, but it is possible. We know Betty's trip was not the same day as when Don called her because persumably he had not given his permission yet. It does make more sense if you look at it that way.
Joan probably did not get Don a furnished apartment until after Christmas so the kids probably had it (the holiday) at home with Betty and at the Roosevelt hotel with Don.
The more I think about it I just can't see Betty going to Reno before Christmas, but Henry did tell the lawyer that they wanted it over as soon as possible. Probably before Betty has a chance to come to her senses!
Betty loves the kids, and she had to know how hard this would be on them.

I know that one only gets a prize (and do I love my pen) when being quoted for the FIRST time, but, I sure would love one of those travel mugs -- or a 2010 Mad Men Calendar....can't help it, just wishin'.....

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As I recall, Betty is NOT the only self-centered character on the show. There are others . . . like Don Draper, Joan Holloway, Pete Campbell, Roger Sterling, and of course, Peggy Olson.

If Betty had left for Reno before the holidays, why wasn't Don taking care of Sally and Bobby?

Frankly I think the stuff with Henry Francis is just too easy. 1). Don Draper isn't going to let anyone abscomb with his wife/marriage .. so she/the audience just thinks he's giving in, that's the idea he wants conveyed. With guard down, he's free to do digging/get dirt on Henry Francis. 2). Henry Francis has a dark side. That he made Betty come to him... "you have to be the one to come to me".. is an ego trip for him, then he has her where he wants and he can convince her of anything. "I don't want him (Don) having any connection on you" or whatever it was. Of course not, controlling men never want anyone else to have much access.

Season 4 will be interesting. I wonder how much Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique" will play into the scripts if at all, as it was fairly pivotal in the early part of the mid 60s and forward.

I for one think they are going a little too heavy and a lot too soon on the feminism. I know it was starting historically, if you just look at the history capsules, but if you actually lived it like many of us Maddicts did, you know that it was longer and slower being actualized especially among upper class women like Betty Draper.

I don't think the storyline of Betty's running off to Reno to divorce Don and marry a stranger is any more credible than that of Miss Farrell jogging in the Wee Small Hours through a suburban neighborhood in 70's jog shorts and tee.

All that said, though I still love the show and overlook these implausibilities because it is still the best thing I have ever seen on TV.

Betty had to establish residency in Reno. Maybe (not sure) that could have been done without actually having to stay there for six weeks. If so, she could have done what she needed to do, then fly back to be with Sally and Bobby.

But Betty being Betty, it is entirely possible she wasn't with the kids at Xmas.