Unlike many parents these days, we agreed — before even getting married or considering children — that we wouldn’t take our baby or child to a movie theater (1) until the child was old enough to sit through a movie and enjoy it without crying or yapping like a miniature dog, and (2) unless the movie was for our child. I can’t fathom the motivations of parents we’ve heard about in the news recently who took their four-month-old babies or four-year-old children to see a PG-13 movie at midnight. (We never even discussed whether it was okay to take any child to a midnight showing; we just figured it was common sense to not do that.)
We’re also not big on babysitters or daycare, which means that my wife and I haven’t seen a lot of movies in the theater since Rebecca was born. A few months ago, I saw my first one, and then a month or so later my second. Today, we each saw the same movie at the same theater, but at different times.
After a really nice swim this morning (not much cleanup needed at the pool this time, though there was a brassiere stuck in one of the filter intakes), we ate sandwiches for lunch and Rebecca fell asleep in her high chair.
My wife left then for the 1 p.m. showing of The Dark Knight Rises (Batman), her first trip to a movie theater in more than 21 months.
Rebecca asked around for “Mama” after waking up, but played well for me during the next couple of hours. A few minutes after my wife got home, I left for the 5 p.m. showing of the same movie, getting gas and dropping off the mortgage check on the way out.
My daughter was prepping for a bath when I got home, having played outside for more than an hour.
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Interesting arrangement. Bob and I have only been to a movie when we can leave the children with Mom and Dad – the last one was Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I also don’t comprehend taking a toddler to a movie. An infant *might* sleep through a show, but then it might cry the whole time, too. But 6 months to about 3 years would just be miserable for at least a portion of the movie.
I went to a movie one time by myself (Reniesance Man) and it sure felt strange. How do you like the experience?
@Shari, I used to go to movies alone all the time before I got married so it’s completely normal for me. But I do wish the previews started before the movie start time. If the movie is scheduled for 1pm have the previews and commercials air at 12:45 so you can skip the 6 previews. I seem to remember there only being 2 or 3 when I was a kid but now the previews take almost 20 minutes.
Hey guys, I am in the hospital for induction. At my checkup today I was dilated to 4cm so we decided to go for it. Excited and nervous.
So how was the movie? I always enjoy the trailers since we don’t go to the theater that often, but they throw in a lot of extra advertising these days and that can be annoying. Some theaters show the trailers before the actual time, and some don’t. It doesn’t matter to me as long as I know what to expect. We usually get there early though no matter what.
I agree about the ages.. I don’t know what people are thinking sometimes. It is miserable for them (the parents), the child, and everyone else in the theater trying to watch the movie.
Cassie: I liked the movie, but wished I’d seen the first two again more recently… There were quite a few ties to the other two movies, so I felt lost without remembering them… Marline doesn’t forget stuff like that, so she *loved* the movie. :-)
I remember one of the theaters in Shawnee used to start the actual movie at the actual time, with previews beginning earlier. We liked that arrangement — but like you say, you need to know in advance.
Shari: Congratulations on little Daniel! (Note to others: we got the phone call early this morning.)
I haven’t seen the others in a while either. Not sure how much I would remember. Congrats Shari!