Mommy Matters: Parental Guidance advised

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Parental Guidance advised

When I was little I remember hearing my parents talking about the movie "The Big Chill". I don't really remember what was said, other than they liked this movie, and it was inappropriate for me and my brother to see. This of course peaked my interest. I never watched the movie, but it remained taboo in my memory even into adulthood.

The same thing happened with the movie "The Shining". I remember my dad sitting down to watch "The Shining", and my mom shuttling me out of the room, telling me it was far too scary a movie for me to see. I am now nearly 30 years old, and though I have seen many a scary movie, "The Shining" still lives in my mind as an out-of-this-world scary movie that I will not watch to this day, even though in actuality it probably isn't at all as scary as some of the movies I have seen.

Isn't it funny how small comments made to us as children can stick with us. I'm not talking about important pieces of wisdom that our parents impart to us that help to shape us into who we ultimately become. I'm talking about the insignificant pieces of a conversation that we carry with us through our lives. Who knows why certain things stick out in our minds while others fade away? (I wonder what pieces of "nothing" Gabriella will remember as she grows older. Right now she seems to remember EVERY word I say!)

Tonight my parents took me and the kids out to dinner, and then stopped by my house to help me get them into bed, because they know Spiral has been working long hours and they are probably worried about my mental well-being. As my mom and I are brushing tiny teeth and reading Margaret Wise Brown books, my dad settled in on the couch to channel surf, and stopped on "The Big Chill". When the lights had been turned out and the last of the good-night kisses doled out, I joined my parents on the couch to finally rest my feet and thank them for all there help.

I was sitting there between them, and we were watching "The Big Chill". I was suddenly eight years old, and I felt like not only was a breaking a cardinal rule (Thou shall not watch "The Big Chill"!), but I was doing it right there in front of the rule-makers themselves. And they were allowing me to watch the movie! What is the matter with these people? Don't they know their little girl is in the room? It was slightly uncomfortable for me - all because of some comments they made about the movie 20 years ago. Comments they probably don't even remember making.

After they left I decided to continue watching the movie. I had a bit of a giddy, naughty feeling about it, because I was obviously doing something wrong. I watched most of it, and when the credits rolled, I thought "Huh". Okay, I can see why a child shouldn't see this movie. (Plenty of sex going on). But as an adult of course it wasn't a big deal. And you know what else? It's wasn't that great, either. Huh.

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7 Comments:

Boy... that post made me feel old... as one of my favorite movies is THE BIG CHILL.

- Dana (www.prettypurpleprincess.net)

By Anonymous, at 6:07 AM

**waving**

Feeling ancient over here...

(Liz@This Full House)

By Anonymous, at 7:36 AM

The movie would have seemed better if you were of that generation, as with any movie, it was made for that :-)

By Crazy Single Mom, at 2:11 PM

Oh I do agree. I wasn't saying the movie was horrible - I hope it didn't sound like that. The premise was good - college friends reuniting for the funeral of a friend. I agree that for me it was a little dated. My mom said that what she loved most about the movie was the music, and I admit I know every one of those songs. (because of my mom). It's just that for me there was this build-up because it was "off limits", and then when I saw it, it was just another movie.

By Christine, at 2:16 PM

Ah...the forbidden fruit.

Catt
http://cativa.blogspot.com

By Anonymous, at 3:15 PM

I love this post because it is so true. I can really relate! As an adult it's fun to sit back and tell our parents, as well as aunts and uncles, the funny things we remember them saying or doing when we were kids (most of which THEY DON'T REMEMBER!!). It makes me wonder what funny stories our own children will share with us when they are adults.

Some funny things I remember...my mom let me read 'Pet Cemetary' by Stephen King, but she taped paper over all the "bad" parts. Also, they would let me stay in the room when they would watch "older" movies, but they would either make me turn my head and cover my ears during certain parts or go in the other room until it was over.

I remember if someone was kissing on tv, even an innocent kiss on a tv show, I would cover my eyes all embarassed and say to my parents, "DON'T LOOK AT ME! DON'T LOOK AT ME!" LOL

By Mel, at 7:18 PM

My parents told my sister and I absolutely not to watch a film they'd taped: The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox. Of course we then watched it sneakily (and mostly on fast forward). I still feel guilty about it. I don't remember what was so bad about it except George Segal 'honking' Goldie Hawn's boob!

By Keris Stainton, at 12:27 PM

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Name: Christine
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I'm the Mom of two. They drive me crazy. I love them dearly. I want one more. I'm not insane, yet. My hubby says I'm a snob with an inferiority complex. There is more to me than being a mother. I just don't remember any of it.

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