Out of Context: Movies in the Park: Parenting 101

One of the things that I look most forward to in the oppressively muggy summers in Little Rock is the Riverfront spectacular known as Movies in the Park. Having to combat monster mosquitos and lapsing into dehydration every hour are small prices to pay for this weekly summer event.  It is free; it is entertaining, and it is set at the beautiful river bank of the Arkansas River. You can bring a picnic dinner and relax while your child is simply going bonkers seeing their favorite cartoon on the big screen without being restricted to a seat. Plus, the program also often takes can and dry food donations for local charities. What is there not to love?

Movies in the Park Website

This year's schedule was released and for the most part, I am excited.

• ·         June 11 - Man of Steel (PG 13)
• ·         June 18 - Office Space (R)
• ·         June 25 - Eat Pray love (PG 13)
• ·         July 2 - Frozen (PG)
• ·         July 9 - Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone (PG)
• ·         July 16: The Hunger Games (PG 13)
• ·         July 23 - Friday Night Lights (PG 13)
• ·         July 30 - E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (PG)

My child is at an age where I do not bat an eye at PG movies. He is a rowdy, comic-book loving boy, so we work with the PG-13 for certain superhero movies.

There are some great movies this year.

http://tjhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ET.jpg

However, there are some movies that are questionable. I completely believe that there should be options for people who do not wish to see "kid" movies, so don't misunderstand my frustration.

There are parents everywhere that have no issue exposing their children to adult material or are too unaware of the content of a movie that is rated R (There is this lovely thing called Google, people! Use it!).

You know that there are people that will bring their kids to the R movies. I imagine the conversation being something like, "Oh! Little Johnny isn't even paying attention. He just wants to run around and blow bubbles."

Those moms grow up to be like the Oblivious Mom meme.

Really? Is that what you think happens? That mentality is why children go to their pre-school or elementary school mimicking "The O face" and Jennifer Aniston's finger gestures that show her "flair" for her job in Office Space. If you take them to see Friday Night Lights, be prepared for them to be scared of their coaches or worried that their father will comment on the physical development of a girl when they eventually get caught making out with someone.

Yes, this is Tim McGraw playing a drunk, abusive father. 

Are these things that you truly want your school age children to learn?  Certainly not. In most cases, when a teacher would call to address such behavior, a parent is likely to say, “Well, Little Johnny didn’t learn that at home. What are the other kids doing at school?” Parents tend to forget the minor details of a rated R movie that they thought their child wasn’t paying attention to when their precious does their own production of the movie in October. 

I say this as a mother whose child hummed "The Imperial March" in front of a priest while a reenactment of Jesus carrying the Cross was taking place during a live version of The Stations of the Cross (this same child asked the same priest if Yoda was God and wants to tell the whole school about Hellboy because, as my son puts it, "He was born a demon, but became a Catholic.").

I also say this as a teacher who often sees and hears many things that your child would not dare do in front of you. 

Most parents, I believe, genuinely try to raise the best kid possible. I have never heard a parent say that they wanted their kid to flip off their 2nd grade teacher or behave sexually by 4th grade. It comes down to being responsible for knowing what the content is before you go to the movies, and some parents seem to forget that when everyone just wants to get out of the house and enjoy a free event.

I love Office Space (I have a red Swingline stapler on my desk) and I enjoyed Friday Night Lights.

This is almost exactly how I look on most prep periods. I love my stapler. 

I am glad that adult options are available because not everyone has kids and for those of us that do, we want a date night occasionally without trying to shield a child's eyes and ears or having our spilled adult beverage ruining our pretty summer dress because some other parent is letting their kid is run around like a wild banshee.

I hope everyone enjoys Movies at the Park. My family certainly will. However, if you cannot find a babysitter on June 18th and July 23rd, then stay at home and make your own movie night for the sake of everyone involved. Most of all, to keep your child a little more innocent for a little while longer.

Until next time, 

BE LOUDER THAN MOST!