This is what happened when I asked her to smile, so Ainsley!
This morning I was again reminded of something that I already know.
All kids are different.
I don't intend for this to be a life shaking, life-altering notion.
Rather a reminder to myself of something that I thought I already knew.
This was so evident this morning I was watching a much beloved family favorite kids movie with the little two girls.
With my oldest, when she was smaller, she would simply love the story line and want to go play with her toys from the movie afterwards.
Ainsley on the other hand is completely different.
She seems to pick up every not so wonderful word, phrase and nuance the movie possesses.
Throughout the movie she was more than happy to repeat:
Mommy, he said "stupid".
He said "shut up".
She said "dumb dog".
You get the picture right?
Now, what is shocking to me is that while yes this is a kids movie, is that this sort of language is common place in children's movies.
In some movies I was not even aware of the word choices.
Maybe because as adults we are desensitized to these things?
Maybe because Adison was not a parrot who loved to repeat things for shock value?
I think (hope) that Ainsley is just trying to understand language more.
She asks me what certain phrases mean or if what they are saying is funny.
It has really only been since Ainsley is really old enough to know that these words get a response and a talking to about why we don't say such things that I have been made aware.
It could also be that my husband and I tend to be more strict with language so these phrases are more rare and stick out to her.
We don't allow certain words in our house and have made an effort to use positive choices rather than hurtful ones.
Now, I know that these limits will change as my children grow.
For now though, we strive to make our house a positive home.
A home where expressing ones self can be done without using hurtful language.
This has been brought forward several times lately by Ainsley repeating these words after watching a movie and then using them with us or her sisters when she gets upset or wants to push a few buttons.
Yes, Ainsley is a button pusher who loves reactions.
It has shown me even more than I thought I already knew, that just because something is portrayed as a kids movie doesn't necessarily mean it is for kids.
I think that I am going to have to invest some time weeding out some movies that use less than stellar language until my little repeater is a bit older.
What movie are you talking about here? I'm just curious, although I do know what you mean. Especially now that I am older, I look back and watch some movies that I watched when I was a kid and loved, and also have listened to a lot of songs that I listened to when I was a pre-teen and what not and I am like "really, that is what they say?!" You know, as now I understand a little bit more and know what they mean by that word or that phrase. lol.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed a lot of Disney and Pixar movies have jokes and words that are aimed at the adults watching and not the children. Unfortunately the children are understanding these jokes and comments at a younger age these days. During the latest Toy Story I was a little shocked at one point though I don't clearly remember the exact reason I remember asking my husband is that appropriate for children? The Shrek movies are the same way a few too many rude comments and bodily function jokes for a movie geared towards little kids in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I've noticed several kid movies have "Adult" jokes. It's difficult to forsee what kids will pick up and what they wont. A Mom's job is never done!!
ReplyDeleteMy dad used to say he had four children and they couldn't be more different.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I've noticed several kid movies have "Adult" jokes. It's difficult to forsee what kids will pick up and what they wont. A Mom's job is never done!!
ReplyDeleteWhat movie are you talking about here? I'm just curious, although I do know what you mean. Especially now that I am older, I look back and watch some movies that I watched when I was a kid and loved, and also have listened to a lot of songs that I listened to when I was a pre-teen and what not and I am like "really, that is what they say?!" You know, as now I understand a little bit more and know what they mean by that word or that phrase. lol.
ReplyDelete