On Easter Monday, I got to do something with Luke that I have always dreamed about sharing with my kids.
We went to the movies together.
Not all of us – just Luke and Daddy. I stupidly weird how proud I was to be walking into the cinema with him. We waited (and waited!) in line to get our tickets for ‘Horton Hears A Who’, we marched up the stairs towards our cinema – wisely stopping for a toilet break first – and then Luke handed our tickets to the cinema person and in we went.
I expected the cinema to be packed and it wasn’t, so we got to pick our seat which was good. We settled down to watch the film and enjoy. He was most impressed that the lights went down!
To preface this, he has sat down and watched animated movies on TV at home (that shows some stamina in itself with all those ads), however I suspect that the aforementioned ads are what allow him to get through – he can get up, walk around, do ‘stuff’ in the ad breaks and then settle back down for the movie when it is back on. He can also walk around during it and pick up a toy, annoy his sister, whatever. When it comes to the cinema there’s none of that, and he still handled it pretty well. His eyes were wide many times, I think just due to the enormity of the screen (well, compared to a 2 year old anyway). A scene when the vulture is trying to capture the clover that has the Whoville speck on it scared him a little (the vulture pops out of nowhere) – it made him physically jump – but he recovered fine. We talked a little about the movie as we were going to help him process everything (‘Elephant is sad’; They (the Whos) are funny’; ‘He (JoJo) not talking’; etc). Helped me keep up with the plot, anyway…
There was some standing up moments, some sitting down moments, some stretching out across the next chair moments, but I never once had to tell him to stop messing around. He was pretty transfixed by the film – it is very entertaining and one worth getting on DVD to watch again later. A lot of fun with something in it for all ages.
He enjoyed a drink pre-prepared by Mum, as well as some special lollies we snuck in (stupid ‘no outside food’ rules) which Daddy spaced out over the course of the film. Once we were done, we stopped off for another toilet break on the way out and went off to meet Mummy and Lily for lunch.
It was a fun time. I know he didn’t enjoy the movie like I did, but then I am hoping we get the chance to enjoy many, many more movies together. He was such a treat to take out, and while I do not expect him to remember it when he is 21, I sure will… one of those ‘my little boy is growing up’ moments, all wrapped up in a ‘this is exactly how I dreamed this experience would be – how fun sharing my passion for movies with my son’ vibe.
…but I digress… ;)