Time is harder to come by. Now, she's on vacation, so much of our time has been spent driving her around and showing her stuff. I'm sure if she was here all the time I'd do a lot more of what I'm doing today and letting the TV babysit her.
She loves Firefly now, by the way. I have done that, at least. We watched the entire series and then the movie.
But I saw just how much of your time kids can sap. She, at least, can take of herself. I can only imagine how time consuming a younger kid can be. So those of you with kids who still find time to write, kudos.
But the big thing I have observed was Friday night when we went to the movie theater. These were the films playing:
Super 8 - she already saw it.
Horrible Bosses - she wanted to see it, but it's rated R, and for a reason.
Cars 2 - none of us wanted to see it
Monte Carlo - thank God she had no desire to see this either.
Bad Teacher - even if we hadn't already seen it, there was no way we were taking her to this
Bridesmaids - no way.
Zookeeper - we all thought this was silly
So basically, every movie is one we either saw, didn't want to see, or was not appropriate for children. That left us with two choices:
Transformers
X Men First Class
Beefcake and I didn't really want to see Transformers, but given the limited choices I figured we could tolerate it, as long as she agreed to go 2D so I didn't end up with a headache. But really if we're all going to be happy, that left us with one choice: X Men. All those movies available and only one - a film that was released a week earlier - suited the whole group.
I never really thought about it before because I never had to worry about what was appropriate for a kid before. The whole need for PG-13 films over R isn't just about the kids. It's about the parents. I can't imagine how distraught I would have been if she had wanted to see Zookeeper or Monte Carlo. At least I know with Cars 2 there would have been something for me in there, but either way, taking a kid to the movies means some sacrifice on the part of the parents.
It's given me some thought over the past few days.
I saw 2 adult movies in the theater in the first 8 years of my son's life! What's more, he's a night owl so I can't watch R-rated films after he's gone to bed.
ReplyDeleteI miss it.
As I've stated in the past, Emily, I have 5 of them there micro-humans you speak of.
ReplyDeleteWriting and rearing young'uns is quite do-able, you just have to be damned crafty about it. It all becomes covert, ultimately, which actually gives ones work a nice edge... because, um, you're always on EDGE. There's always this imaginary gun to your head... I've not only grown used to working like that... I kinda' dig it.
Hell, I'm about to break ground on my first directorial effort, a short film to be lensed this September. So yes, it can be done!
See? I never get this "protect" the kid thing, especially movies. What it is parents expect the kid to be protected from exactly? Sex? Violence? Bad, bad words? Have they seen the news? Been inside a school? Hang out with their kid? What exactly? They've seen it, heard it, live it.
ReplyDeleteI just don't get it.
@ Sally Slut Slays a Giant
ReplyDelete"What it is parents expect the kid to be protected from exactly?"
Two things:
1. Annoying questions that make it impossible for you to watch/enjoy the movie.
ie. "Why are his hands on her breastes?"
2. Having unreasonably and inconsolably frightened children sleeping in your bed for three weeks making it impossible for you to sleep longer than 20 minutes at a time.
I used to think it was about protecting the kids. Now I know it's always drenched in selfish intention. It's all about getting through the rearing without becoming an alcoholic or a murderer.
One out of two ain't always bad.
I hate to tell you, but Cars 2 really blows, an incredible disappointment.
ReplyDeleteI have two very young kids, and time is precious ... it's a hard balance, but the interesting thing is, you actually become more productive ... when you have a window to write, you maximize it, no surfing, research, just do it!
GOT MARRIED TO NICE WIFE, HAVE THREE KIDS, I WRITE SPECS, OPTIONED ONE, HOLD A FULL TIME JOB...WRITE MORE SPECS...LOVE IT
ReplyDeleteI DON'T THINK I WOULD WRITE ALL THESE SCRIPTS WITHOUT MY WIFE AND MY KIDS.
THANKS YOU GANG FOR THE HAPPINESS AND MISERY. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS. ACTUALLY 99% IS MISERY. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. ITS THE TRUTH.
MORAL OF STORY - GET A LIFE AND THEN THE WRITING WILL COME IN LARGE AMOUNTS AND AT THE BANK, AND THE JOY OF LIFE WILL FALL ON YOUR LAP.
GET A LIFE. IT'S THE HARDEST JOB TO HAVE AND HOLD.
THE REST IS FOR PUSSIES.
DENNIS
sorry, this is unrelated to the post (which was totally like, spot on and stuff), but what gadget is that awesome "screenplays in progress" area on the left hand side of your front page?
ReplyDeletethaanks!
Z, try here for Wordpress: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/daves-whizmatronic-widgulating-calibrational-scribometer/
ReplyDeleteI can't find the source of it for Blogger because I installed it so long ago, but if you poke around David Anaxagoras' site you might find it. He started it.