December 5, 2009 10:44 AM

Movies: Choosing Wisely and Raising Kids Who Will Too

Movies: Choosing Wisely and Raising Kids Who Will Too

Barbara Curtis

When it comes to movies, my husband Tripp and I are very protective of our children - though it sometimes feels like we're alone in this endeavor.  After decades of hearing, "But all my friends are seeing it. . . " sometimes I grow weary.

But as a mom whose raised two generations of teens (12 kids 9-40), I have a different perspective. And I know that while many parents think PG-13 means a movie is okay, the envelope has been pushed for so many years that PG-13 in many cases might as well mean Pure Garbage-13.

Today our job as parents is more complicated than just guarding kids from graphic sex.  We really need to research each movie our kids want to see to determine if the themes and humor are something that we want to become part of their personal baggage.

If we want our children to be pure, we need to focus not only on the body, but on the mind and spirit. Do we really want their perspective on love and relationships corrupted by coarse jokes and sick humor?  Or will we stand against the culture and do the job God has called us to do - to raise children whose minds aren't so corrupted by "entertainment" that there is little room for God, leaving Him just a little compartment, making Him irrelevant to the choices they make.

This came up for me a couple months ago when Maddy wanted to see The Proposal with friends. That's right - The Proposal with Sandra Bullock. PG-13. Miss All-American Sweetheart. What could be objectionable about that? And, as Maddy reminded me when I said, "Let's check it out first," she's 16 and next year she'll even be able to see R-rated movies.

First let me make clear that I do not let the MPAA do my thinking for me. Not only would I not want my kids to see most PG-13 movies, but there are some R-rated movies Tripp and I regard as family treasures - like The Mission, Glory , and The Last of the Mohicans - and some we might watch at home together, fast forwarding sketchy parts so that our kids can benefit from worthwhile themes.

So yes, this parenting thing - if you want to do it well - requires a little extra. Because Maddy is right - next year she will be 17.

Read more at Crosswalk.

Love,

Posted in Entertainment, Movies | Permalink

Comments

I have the same problem. My two always say "everyone else has seen it". It feels as though we're the only ones who want to be careful about what they see and hear in movies and TV. As someone who grew up watching anything as a kid, I try not to repeat that mistake. We bought a Clearplay DVD player to help with that. Thanks for saying something. Nice to know other Christians think like us.

Posted by: Jill | December 5, 2009 11:47 AM

I wholeheartedly agree with you Barbara. I always use Pluggedinonline.com (by Focus on the Family)before we rent/watch anything, even for just my husband and I. The movie critics do an excellent job evaluating the entire content and overall quality of the movie. Never steers me wrong. Great resource. Life is too short to waste it on bad films. Philippians 4:8
love, sarah

Posted by: Sarah | December 5, 2009 12:00 PM

Barbara - Thank you for your post. So many times I take away so much from what you write! Even though my kids are all under 5, we have begun to regulate what they can watch and what they cannot watch. We don't have cable TV, and I think that has been the BEST decision we have made so far. Even commercials are getting out of hand. Our problems have come more for what my husband and I watch and do not watch. Not all movies have been reviewed by Plugged Online (that's what i use to screen movies, any other good suggestions??), so we run into movies we wish we had never rented/borrowed! Also, I rarely go off of what other friends and family tell us. I think that is one of the #1 downfalls to most decisions - especially in teens. Everyone has their own convictions and weaknesses. So what is ok for one person may not be for another. I think we need to also teach our kids how to think for themselves and know their true limits and listen to their continence.
If you have any websites that you screen movies with, let me know please. Plugged in Online is good, but as I said, they don't have some movies - especially older ones. Thank you!

Posted by: Elisabeth LaMouria | December 5, 2009 12:05 PM

You might be interested in this site for Christian movie reviews:

http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/

Also, my husband and I saw the Proposal, which we liked very much. However, that strip-tease scene was really awful, not because you saw any private parts, but because it was performed by an overweight, middle-aged man who put himself in a lot of gross positions. We lasted about 10 seconds with that, and then we fastforwarded. The rest of the movie was funny--but we are 30 something adults. I'm not sure I'd want my teen to see this...so Maddy made a good choice.

Posted by: Jill (colicmommy) | December 6, 2009 11:56 AM

How about "I'll Be Home for Christmas"?

Posted by: Donna (backwoodsmom) | December 7, 2009 11:42 PM

Post a comment