Jared and I are big movie fans. We love walking into our local AMC theater, purchasing our tickets (which, incidentally, are only $5.00 for any and all movie releases, courtesy of the Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation program… the posted price at AMC is $10.00, so it is a real bargain!), and settling in a cushy seat to get enraptured in a life not your own for a few hours.
HOWEVER (you knew that was coming, right?), our visits to the movies are more frequently spoiled than not lately by the proverbial irresponsible, idiotic parent. It seems that every time we go, there is a toddler screaming and crying, a snot-nosed little kid kicking the backs of our seats, and their parents who seem entirely oblivious to the fact that their child is causing the childless couples to want to stay that way by beaning people in the head with M&Ms. M&Ms they just took out of their mouths…
Now, mind you, if we go see a Disney/Pixar cartoon or a DreamWorks movie about penguins (what’s with the penguins lately?), we’re not expecting a grown-up movie going experience. In fact, when we saw March of the Penguins (SEE???) on a Saturday afternoon with the entire population of the city’s preschools, we didn’t bat an eye when babies cried, kids kicked the seats, and a hopelessly clueless mother goose wrangling all 25 of her pre-pubescents ran into my shin with a stroller (I might have winced then).
What I take issue with is when parents bring their little darlings (read: victims) to movies that are meant for a more mature crowd, like the recently released “1408”. My little darling (read: Jared) is a big John Cusack fan, and has wanted to see this movie since he first saw a preview for it. It is a suspenseful thriller, bordering on being a horror movie. BORDERING. It doesn’t quite make the cut as an actual horror film, but it definitely has those scary and intense moments. So why, oh why, are there 7 and 8-year-old nervously chomping their popcorn and kicking our seats? Why are there infants needing diaper changes a row back? Why would you bring your innocent-minded 9-year-old girl with blonde pigtails to a movie with a review that reads, “…a deft Stephen King freak-out”? Come on, people! Is this really a child-appropriate subject matter? Do you really want to give them nightmares for the rest of their adolescence? If you don’t care about what impact you’re having on your children (which is by far the greater priority of this diatribe), at least consider how you’re affecting the experience of those around you. We just wanted a fun evening out that didn’t include diapers and pre-licked M&Ms. And I’m not begrudging you as parents a fun evening out, either. You can have one! But first, you must take proper measures to make sure it is enjoyable for EVERYONE involved.
It’s called a babysitter.
After long thought and much perplexity, to be very brief was all that she could determine on with any confidence of safety
About Me
- Newly Young
- Washington, D.C., United States
3 comments:
I'm a huge fan of the one-line-closers and use them whenever I can.
I agree with you. When we first got Joseph, the poor kid was scared to death of everything from the bathroom mirror (Bloody Mary) to meeting my good friend Jason (Friday the 13th). All because the adults in his life were more concerned with not missing out on the movie they wanted to see rather than with the child's welfare. The poor kid believed in Freddy, but not in Santa Claus.
Sick.
Hey Erin,
You need to get haloscan for your comments. Its easy to set up and then you wont get those annoying advertisements people try to put there.Hard to leave a comment...
I agree with the kids thing. I hate that parents are really discouraged from discipling their children.
Amanda Taylor
that one should say disciplining not discipling. I guess they should disciple their children. You need to post! I will once my i net is back up. I will be available this weekend after today and Trev is out of town til Tuesday. Oh and we are closing on a house 9/24!
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