Movie Mondays with Mommy

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Today I’m starting a new tradition with my oldest son called “Movie Mondays with Mommy.”  I want to take advantage of the calmer summer days and nap time when my two youngest are sleeping.

Here’s the problem.

Sitting down and being still is HARD for me.   My oldest wants me desperately to sit, color, draw, talk, sort Legos and just be with him.  However, nap time is when I accomplish the most (as I explained in my Behind the Scenes post).   Sitting during nap feels like torture and I feel intensely guilty for not taking advantage of nap time.

So, why the new tradition?

The Background

As you know, I’ve been reading “Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys” and it’s incredible.   I had three boys within 3.5 years so this book is becoming a great resource to me!  My life has been a whirlwind of urgent care trips and sword fights.  Life with all boys is hard to describe.  While my friends with adventurous girls might think they understand….you just don’t.  I love you…but…you just don’t.

The authors of the book have broken down stages of boyhood into the following categories:

  • The Explorer (age 2-4)
  • The Lover (ages 5-8)
  • The Individual (ages 9-12)
  • The Wonderer (ages 13-17)
  • The Warrior (ages 18-22)

I have 2 Explorers (almost 2 and 3) and one Lover (age 5.5)

The “Explorer” stage I’m very familiar with.  They are aggressive, adventurous and outrageously curious.   The “Lover” stage is one I’m having a harder time understanding.  My oldest has become more affectionate and emotional.   He still displays characteristics of the Explorer but seems to be struggling in his tender heart.

The authors explained:

“Lovers find themselves at a complex spot on their journey to manhood. Though they still exhibit many of the traits of Explorers (such as curiosity, activity, aggressiveness and self-determination), there are balanced by more tender and relationship characteristics. Our job as parents and caregivers is to nurture and help Lovers find the balance they need during this season.”

The authors suggested this age (5-8) is a great time to introduce older (read: quality) movies with moral substance and have purposeful conversations with them one-on-one.  They listed various movies that would spur great conversation and allow parents to connect and nurture a young boy’s emotions.  I already have identified my favorite cartoons so I was grateful for these movie suggestions.

So today, we are starting Movie Mondays with Mommy.  When his two brothers nap, we will pop popcorn, cuddle on the couch and watching one the authors suggested, The Iron Giant.    I’m going to resist the urge to check email and multi-task.

I only have about 13 summers left with him.  I want to enjoy these times.

Other movies the authors suggested were:

  • The Adventures of Robin Hood (1939)
  • Stagecoach (1939)
  • The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  • Old Yeller (1957)
  • Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
  • The Ten Commandments (1956)
  • Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
  • The Lion King (1994)
  • Babe (1995)

I don’t think he’s ready for Old Yeller or the Red Fern.  I’m certainly not.   But I love the older movies suggestions!

Happy Monday!

1 COMMENT

  1. The Greatest Show on Earth and Swiss Family Robinson! 🙂 Suggestion, do not watch Where the Red Fern Grows! 🙂

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