Adventure At the Movies
My wife and I had always wanted to go to the movies after a break of about 3 1/2 years (yes that’s how long we didn’t step into a movie theater). But with my eldest around, it didn’t seem like a good idea. But that was until I decided “it is time”. I can still remember that day quite vividly.
When my eldest turned 3, I wanted to try and experiment taking her to the movies. My wife agreed, poor thing I’m sure she would have been waiting too. We chose a nice big movie theater and of course the movie was a kids’ movie - Alvin and the chipmunks. Frankly, I would NEVER have watched this movie in a theater 4 or 5 years ago. But how times have changed. Small sacrifices for greater joys of parenting I must say.
We prepared our daughter well in advance - almost a week. I had to explain to her where we were going, and the movie is going to be played on a “BIG BIG TV” and there would be strangers watching the movie with us too. As I waited for her reaction, I heaved a sigh of relief when I found out that she was excited by the fact that we were going to watch the movie on a bigger TV. I know it was time to change the TV in the living room soon.
So we got to the movies all dressed up… excited… nervous and whole lot of other emotions. I could hear other kids crying, running around their bewildered parents and I was fearing the worst. But luckily for me my eldest was very well behaved - fit to be a princess I should say. Quietly munching on the mini popcorn that we got for her, she was waiting for the movie to start. She did have some trouble with the seat as I had to hold the foldable seat down or she might have been launched into orbit by the spring action of the chair - she wasn’t heavy enough to hold it down.
The movie started and she was extremely excited. She wanted to sit in her own chair and didn’t want to sit on daddy or mommy’s lap. The movie was not too bad I should say. After about 80% of the movie she got off her chair (with our permission) went to the side and started dancing to the tunes in the movie. My wife and I suddenly found that she soon had her own audience. Cute or disturbing? I didn’t want to know as we soon exited the movie theater as it was time for some mushy stuff as well.
Overall, this was a good experience - no screams, no tantrums, no popcorn wars and best of all SHE enjoyed it. I was mighty pleased with myself and now I’m waiting for my youngest to grow up - another movie day is 2 years away!
