Are we teaching respect and consideration?

Warning, a SOAPBOX is coming!!!

We attend a local movie theater during the summer each week where the movies are about .50 each, CHEAP! We have gone for years, even when I was carrying a certain 4 year old in the belly. We went to see some box office titles from the year before, or even 2 years. All the same, we loved going and I would refill my souvenior cup for $1 and buy a small popcorn and divide it up into 2 other brown lunch bags that I would bring from home so we can all have some.

I used to LOVE our movie dates. Such a fun cheap way to provide entertainment for my family.

Over the years, I have noticed a change. (please don't tell me it is because I am getting older, I just might smack you).

It has gotten SO LOUD in the movies! I mean LOUD! I remember when Bowden was an infant, I would try to get to the movies early, and wheel my stroller up to the front row, where there was space for a handicap person for a couple of reasons. I wanted to be able to get out quickly if he woke up and was not happy or if he needed to be walked I could just walk up and down the hallway and still see my 2 other jewels enjoying the movie. When Bowden got older, and was mobile, but not ready to be entertained for the whole 1.5 hours, same thing. I would either sit on the first row of stadium seating, or with friends but be on the end of a row or on the lower level so if he needed to run, we wouldn't distract others. If he got loud I could exit the theater for a few minutes and return, again to spot my jewels. My older kids knew this as well. I even remember once when I took all of us and left the movie because I couldn't get Bowden to obey, but I wasn't going to ruin the entire movie theater experience for the other families.

Do I think others should sit where I sat, and do as I do? NO.

What I do think.... is where has the consideration and respect gone?

I am doing a bible study right now about disciplining your children, and one of the lessons is on interrupting. We are all guilty. I even did it to a friend last night! I quickly realized what I did stopped talking. The bible study tells us that if we continue to allow our children to interrupt, we are teaching them that what they have to say is more important than my conversation, or their sisters, or their teachers.... Yes, I know that IT MIGHT BE if someone is bleeding, or vomiting, and or needs to be rushed to the ER or 911 needs to be called.  ANYWHO.... back to the movies.

I do not enjoy my movie days as much any more. I do love hearing my kids and other kids laugh out loud at the movies! I love it! I love to hear them develop their own sense of  humor and enjoy the story lines. I do not enjoy hearing children scream for minutes upon minutes in the movie theater. Over and over. I do not enjoy hearing babies cry for minutes upon minutes. I do not enjoy hearing toddlers throw tantrums over and over and over, same kid, for going on 5 minutes scream at their mother yelling NO. I have even prayed for that mom, and the stress they may be under or in dealing with a strong willed child. I got one. I get it. BUT GET OUT OF THE MOVIE THEATER! Get your kid under control, and then come back and enjoy. I've even watched in the area of the screaming to see if the mom is headed out of the theater and guess what... NOPE! She is sitting there, probably threatening, bribing, trying to shove a passy in the mouth....which I HAVE DONE! I'm not really trying to say these women are not great parents, we have ALL been there. But when these quick soothers do not work.... I hope you understand what I am saying.

Please be respectful of my time with my kids as well. Yep, I also get that you don't want to miss the movie. I may or may not have almost made my kid wet her pants because I didn't want to miss a part in a movie we had not seen. Guilty, but you know, I remembered, we could rent it, borrow from a friend, and I got over it and panties were dry. 

THAT brings me to story time today at the local library. We were late, actually we had never been before, and happened to be in the library when story time began, so we quietly snuck in about 5 minutes late. Bowden really enjoyed it, and I think he would have liked it better if WE COULD HAVE HEARD IT! COME ON PEOPLE! Today, it wasn't the kids talking, IT WAS THE PARENTS! For real! ONE WAS ON HER CELLPHONE TALKING DURING STORY TIME AT THE LIBRARY!  If it is that important, REMOVE yourself from the floor and the children and take it AWAY from the kids so the kids and YOURS can enjoy the story! And you know what..... I wasn't going to say anything about this to my boys, or ask if they were able to hear it... but our conversation on the way to the car went like this:

Me: Parker, did you enjoy story time?
Parker:Yes, but I couldn't hear it very well, and you know what, IT WAS THE MOMMIES TALKING! That was very rude to the story teller!


Come on WOMEN! Be considerate! Be respectful! Teach that when someone is talking, you listen! Now, I'm off to study "How to keep your 4 year old from throwing the plastic tomato that he is holding to make button soup during story time, then diving to catch it." At least he wasn't talking!

HA HA!