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  Jeannie Fleming-Gifford

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Monday, August 01, 2011 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford

I had been waiting for this night for years.  I'm not a big movie watcher, but I do enjoy a trip out to the theater. I remember watching some "007" flick on New Year's Eve, just weeks before our munchkin was born. I figured it was one of our last nights out at the theater, just the two of us, no need for a sitter. As it went, I had six more weeks of movie watching before the kiddo decided to make her debut, but that is another story.

Tonight's rambling is about HER first trip to the movie theater. It's about OUR first trip. Together.

When I heard rumblings that there was a new "Winnie the Pooh" movie coming out, I thought, "PERFECT. FIT." What a great first movie for us to share together. She is four years old. This is classic Pooh. Nothing scary or overwhelming.

It's been a couple of weeks and finally the time was right. We were off to see the movie.

Deciding the movie would cost enough, I packed my own healthy snacks and some water. I figured I'd save the introduction to popcorn for another day. Apples, carrot slices, and crackers proved to have enough appeal and kept her munching for the first few minutes.

Walking into the theater, it was everything I had expected. We walked hand in hand and she was mesmermized by the colorful lights, getting her own ticket, and finding theater number eleven.

What I didn't expect were the PRE-previews. What the h&#% is this? We walk into the theatre and they are already showing commercials. Ugh. This is what I was afraid of. A parent of a sensitive soul, I wasn't sure what her response would be to the big screen, bright and fast graphics and loud sounds. Well, I was right on. Her response was, "I want to go out there (lobby)."

I'm not one to push it. After all, it's my job to write about DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE experiences. It was clear that my kiddo wasn't ready for all this multi-media glitz.

So, off we went to the lobby. I told the hubby to text me when the movie was about to start. However, the kiddo made the first move and we landed back in our seats before the previews (the REAL ones) were about to start.

Oh the previews. How I hate the previews. "Spy Kids," really? Fast fighting with a dog that can do stupid tricks. The kiddo had me covering her eyes. I thought we were now doomed to leave the theater and call it a night, giving the theater a nice donation of $26.00.

I distracted her with apple slices and some quiet whispering.

We made it. On with the movie.

I grew a little more comfortable and the kiddo snuggled in on my lap. THIS is what I was looking forward to, the magic of the theater.

This lasted all of 15 minutes. Then, the plot turned a little more "twisty." I never expected that a Pooh movie might be dark or spooky, but to my kid, it was both. She began saying "Let's go home."

Ugh. There goes that $26.

I wanted her to make it through this first experience. I had done all I could to prepare her. We had talked about what would happen in the theater. We talked about who would be there. We talked about what we would do. I snuck in apple slices for cryin' out loud.

She wasn't going to make it from her current seat location, so I got up and carried her down to the aisle closest to the exit. I put her on my hip and we watched.

Things then went better. Things went worse.

I switched her to a piggy back position where she could watch.

She dug her head into my back. Then, the scene would pass and her head would pop back up.

There were giggles.

For me, this was an emotional rollercoaster ride. For her, I hope I had not damaged her for life.

Finally, THE. END. We made it.

We stayed and watched all the credits.

At the end, Disney made a funny that nearly put the kid over the edge.

The hubby and I laughed. It seemed to take her edge off too.

The good news?

I'm saving A LOT of money over the next few years. There is no need for us to rush back to a movie theater any time soon.

Have you ventured to a movie theater with your kiddo?

Is there a RIGHT age for munchkins to experience going to a theater to see a movie?

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