Thursday, July 22, 2010

Writers Workshop: Is this age appropriate?

Another Writers Workshop from Mama Kat!




A movie you probably should have previewed before letting your kids watch.

Off the top of my head nothing is jumping right out at me. I’m pretty particular about what they can see at what age, and I don’t think I’ve had any horrifying moments. No, I wasn’t delighted a few times during “Transformers 2,” which Charlie and I saw in theaters, but the only thing he seemed to take away from it was how it wasn’t as good as the first movie. That and they said “bad words.” We also took both kids to see Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but luckily at a key scary moment Noelle was asleep, so we didn’t have much to worry about.

No, I think a better topic for this post would be “A movie you probably should have had a say in before your neighbor let your kids watch it.”

You see, we have this neighbor.

And she has a tendency to be less than concerned with what her children watch.

I can understand where the lack of concern comes from – she has children that are about 7 years apart in age, and she seems to lean towards letting everyone see whatever is age appropriate for the older child. Doesn’t make sense to you? Me either.

My first clue came when both kids came home from their house one day and told me all about seeing “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Remember this part?


There’s just something about my 4 year old and 6 year old watching a beating heart get ripped out of a guys chest that makes me…uneasy. Charlie talked about it for a while – you could tell it bothered him. I was not happy but let it go. It’s not as if it could be undone – I would just monitor their activities a little better and move on.

I learned my lesson the 2nd time around, instead.

Noelle came home all excited last year and said they’d watched this little movie.


It’s a PG13 flick about a girl who goes from living in the Playboy mansion to a college sorority house. If there aren’t enough words in that last sentence to fully explain to you why I wasn’t happy, you apparently need to spend less time with my neighbor.

It was after lesson #2 that I finally shut down the trips down the street. Outdoor play times are fine, but let’s keep you where I can see you.

I’ve recently learned that these neighbors no longer like me or my kids. I’m not sure what any of us could have done to bring that on, but I’m thinking it’s for the best. Perhaps our constant showing of G rated movies was crossing the line.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can totally agree with you about being upset with your children being shown these movies without your permission. BUT, you do need to teach your children that ANYTIME they are at a friends house and their going to watch a movie they need to call you FIRST and ask if its ok if they watch XYZ movie.

kisatrtle said...

My neighbor and your neighbor would get along well. She let her 4 year old watch JAWS and Nightmare on Elm street. WTF?

Merrie said...

@ Sybil - You're right about that! It was just such a surprise because it would never occur to me to let a child watch those things! I definitely need to teach them to ask permission in the future.
@ kisatrtle - That's insane! Who are these people??

Anonymous said...

Um...what? Wow. Just the title of that movie, let alone the COVER, is enough to say no to! Geeze! Well, at least the lesson is learned...

Mere said...

I'm thinking those neighbors need a lesson or two in Godly parenting. I cannot believe they allow their kids let alone someone else's kids watch those movies. I AM MORITFIED! SHAME ON THEM!

Heather - Hopelessly Flawed said...

For me it was the Goonies. And I've seen it many times! I loved that movie and was so excited to show it to the kids...apparently as a child all that foul language went over my head! I was shocked to see it again now. We won't be watching that again. Bummer.