Our family had a great Christmas Day! But, as often happens when we come to Utah, (and by often I mean every single time) my kids catch a cold. So today was spent in PJ's. Lounging around playing with toys and electronics alike.
And watching TV.
One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching Christmas movies. Every year, It's a Wonderful Life tops my movies of choice but with young children, our family movie nights revolve around choices like Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman. I can't wait to introduce my kids to George Bailey and Bedford Falls but if the black and white doesn't throw them, the lack of animation surely will.
So on this day after Christmas, we settle for Shrek Forever After.
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| credit: Dreamworks.com |
Now one of my greatest, useless, talents is naming movie quotes. If I've seen it, I can probably quote it to you. My high school job...working in a movie rental store, so I've seen more than my fair share. What can I say, I'm an audio/visual learner. And when it comes to some movies - namely 80's classics - my whole family can recite it for you start to finish! So I come by it honest.
And despite my pediatrician's warnings that too much TV will rot my children's brains. I'm convinced that there are powerful lessons that some movies can teach them. Especially given the fact that they (along with most red blooded American children) will jump at the chance to watch the boob tube.
My niece, a young woman with brains that go beyond her years, is taking a class, "History through Cinema". They use movies to highlight issues. For example, they watched Remember the Titans and To Kill a Mockingbird to discuss segregation in America. Kind of brilliant if you ask me. Now before you roll your eyes, no, I"m not blind to the unavoidable historical inaccuracies that Hollywood throws into movies. But if you choose carefully, there are great lessons for my kids to learn...enter Shrek Forever After.
Quick review...A classic tale of our hero, Shrek, who has forgotten the blessings in his life and wishes that instead of changing diapers and wiping noses, he could just go back to how life was before, when he was just a scary ogre. He gets his wish. But, once aware of the hole his absence has left in the lives of the people he loves, he does everything he can to get his family and his old life back, recognizing that the secret to having it all, is realizing he already did.
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| credit: IMDB |
Ah, savor the Capraesque quality!
No, really! If you stop and think about it, It's a Wonderful Life has its footprints all over that story line. If you haven't seen it stop reading, kick yourself, then go rent it tonight!
Far and away my favorite holiday movie of all time, It's a Wonderful Life has lessons for many a phase of life but probably not in the format my kids would appreciate, understand, or sit through at their age.
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| credit: IMDB |
But getting them to watch Shrek Forever After and its similar lessons, piece of cake!
Which lessons you ask....
- Underdogs matter
- Your life matters, you can make a difference
- Stop to count your blessings
- In helping others, we help ourselves
- The essence of life is relationships
and perhaps most important of all...
- Perspective changes everything!
Will my children embrace and remember these lessons after watching one movie...probably not. But like prayers and manners, it plants the seed. And the more you nurture the seed, the stronger it grows.
Not to mention the fact that I love priceless reminders...the secret to having it all, is realizing I already do!
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