Throwing Caution to the Wind

A few weeks ago, the local drive in theater was having a special deal. Free movies! They were showing UP, Night at the Museum, and Star Trek. Well we don't go to the movies all that often and we take the kids even less often so even though it was a school night we decided to throw caution to the wind and take the kids to the drive in. Yeah I'm a bad parent, whatever. Really I bet his teacher appreciated the lack of energy Alan had the next day. And no, we didn't take them to Star Trek. We kept to the kids movies.

Only, I think kids movies are getting to be too adult. I didn't even realize until later that UP was PG and not G. Oh, it's not like it has swearing, or blood and guts, but why can't kids movies be innocent anymore. In UP you deal with infertility, loss of a loved one, absentee parents as well as the bad guy trying to kill the main characters. I liked the movie. But really, it wasn't a great kids movie. Alan, our sensitive kid, halfway through didn't want to watch the movie anymore. It was too much for him. As it should be. These things should be foreign to kids. I know that reality is a lot harsher than the movie, but why should kids be exposed to these things before they have to? Can't childhood be innocent? Or should I be more worried that I'm taking my kids out on a school night?

My Ladies

So I told John that I have a book club. We meet together monthly to have deep intellectual discussions on quality literature. Really it is an academic group, not a girls night out. Never mind that we all bring enough goodies and treats to feed an army. Or that the discussion might lead away from literature and towards telling pregnancy stories or discussing our color palate (I found out I'm a winter. I've always liked the Autumn colors best but I'm ready to move on and stick to my best colors).

Really these girls are my lifeline. In a house of boys I really need my girl time. The books are fun but even if we can't read the book (or just plain aren't interested), we still come to enjoy our time out. I love that even after moving, when I don't get to see some of these girls as often, I still have a chance to get together with them. They are a wonderful group of women to be with. Let's hear it for the ladies!

It's Starting Already

I love when kids are little and free from outside influences. When the music you listen to is cool and Santa Clause is real. It's scary when they start school and you realize that for a good chunk of the day they are not where you can keep an eye on them. Alan finished kindergarten relatively unscathed but first grade just started and he's starting to notice trends.

Alan left for school with his backpack on just how it should be. And this is how he came home, with his backpack hanging around his bum (yeah, I did that trend for a few years while growing up too). Oh it makes me so sad that I am not his main influence any more. I know it's just a backpack but what's next? Drugs, skipping school . . . OK maybe not in first grade. But still, why can't he be my little boy forever?