I know what you’re thinking – Pixar movies are the best of the best kids movies, bar none. I couldn’t agree more – each one is brilliantly written and animated and is usually captivating from the first moment. But here are three reasons why I can’t put Pixar movies on for my kids on a regular basis….I just can’t.
- It’s hard to choose which one to put on – Usually when we start looking through the movie library and I name some movies to see which one they want to watch, they invariably begin fighting over the Pixar movies. The best (read: worst) is when they fight over sequels, “Mommy I want to watch Toy Story 2!” “No, Toy Story 3!” Even I get to the point where it’s hard to choose which one to put on….it’s an unwinnable battle.
- I end up watching with them – The whole reason why I usually end up putting a movie on for the kids is so I can get something done around the house, like fold laundry, vacuum or empty the dishwasher. But pretty much without fail, whenever I put a Pixar movie on for the kids, I end up watching with them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched Up (I think it’s somewhere close to 50) but I’ve pretty much memorized most of the lines, and I will STILL sit and watch it with them….I know, I’ve got a problem.
- One (or all) of us end up crying – Now this one is quite honestly embarrassing, but I don’t think I have been able to make it through a single Pixar movie without shedding at least one tear. Now it’s become a spectacle with my kids – the last time we watched Inside Out together, I was a blubbering fool, and the boys ended up watching me instead of the movie. And when we watched Finding Nemo together, we talked about what would happen if the boys got lost, like Nemo. That ended in all three of us crying together – it was weirdly cathartic.
No don’t get me wrong, I have been able to pry myself away from the screen on occasion (for movies like…ahem…Cars 2) but for the most part, I’m going to be snuggled up right next to my boys, with a bowl of popcorn in one hand, and a box of tissues in the other.
