Thoughts on Disney movies?

We have done some of the Pixar films…but not any of the ones that include magic, scary villains, or other things that stir up fear in our children. And some of the content of children’s programming is just too grown up for kids. I don’t like the ‘romantic’ angle that is becoming more and more common in the Disney films. Our girls, especially, don’t need to see curvy cartoon girls who are out to capture the attention of boys. We don’t need to reinforce the world’s standard that a girl’s worth comes from her appearance and her ability to flirt.

We have let our boys watch the old movie superheroes – some of the old westerns, sports movies, and comedies with actors like Gary Cooper, John Wayne, or Jimmy Stewart. ‘Sargeant York’ is one of my boys’ favorite films. They have watched it again and again! Boys need heroes to emulate, but heroes of their faith and heroes of character.

How can keeping your standards in line with God’s word be too idealistic? Give them the real things in life, and they won’t crave the conterfeit.

A friend recently gifted us a bunch of non-Disney animated movies based on classics. Whew…I decided that the Disney ones were probably less scary and certainly had better, more attractive animation. We are not keeping the non-Disney versions. But, as with all things, moderation is the key both in watching and discussing! A few appropriate and light discussions can be very enlightening for a person.

I was thinking about this authority issue last night, and wanted to give a little food for thought about the family members who are trying to undermine your authority. I mean this gently, so please read it that way! =)

I am very aware of family members who truly are trying to undermine others. That is wrong. However, I have noticed that when I put resistrictions on something that is a “traditional” item that “all kids” have, it really helps to offer alternatives so that people who are trying to do something nice for my family can. It can be frustrating for both sides! Sometimes in our zeal to proctect our children, we can make our family members into “uncaring monsters” without meaning to and our decisions can sometimes inadvertently make the grandparents feel alienated and deny them the joy sharing things with the grandkids…

My suggestion is to give lists of affordable, approved items and where to get them to your family members/friends and see if that will help in this area – and this goes for food, clothes, toys and other entertainment choices. Most people will happily buy something that you approve of – if you let them know there is an alternative!

We actually told my family (my husband’s family doesn’t give gifts, they never have) that we were trying to limit ourselves to giving our children three gifts for Cmas and for Easter and for birthdays.  We asked them to try to limit thmselves to one or two gifts per child per holiday.  That worked for one year….! *L*  I think we need to mention it again. 

Frankly, we can’t afford to give more than that – our children have all their needs met; we try to encourage their “wants” to be lasting things (maybe a camera, instead of a stupid toy; maybe a book, instead of another stupid toy).  We don’t take vacations like normal people(!), we do the occasional “day away”.  Or allow ourselves to go out for ice cream a couple times during the summer instead of a longer vacation.

I’m trying not to over-react to my brother and sister-in-law who have no children (and no other nieces/nephews close by) who buy my daughters very nice, expensive, many gifts for their birthdays.  Now, my brother and sil have started giving a group (For all my daughters) gift a Christmas, so perhaps that’s why they went “overboard” for the one recent birthday.

I guess we all have this trouble because everyone is different and has their own reasons for doing what they do.  That’s usually a good thing! *L*