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This tip includes both family and entertainment. One of the most important things we can do for our kids today is spend some real time with them, time when ALL of us can be together. Sometimes the moments are as simple as playing a round of UNO or dog pile on the floor. Other times it may be taking advantage of when a great event comes to your community. There are a million options. The question is finding what fits for the moment. Will you be doing the entertaining or will you be enjoying it with your kids? There’s no right or wrong answer, just different times for each.

Family & Entertainment Tip: Timing is critical

One of my family’s favorite things to do together is to go to a good family movie at the theatre. This past weekend was the release of “Everyone’s Hero”. It was a reminder to me of how important timing really is.

Any parent learns very quickly that if you have kids you go early to eat out, early to shows, etc. Life is easier for everyone this way. It is a big sanity saver to avoid the crowds and prime times for entertainment with family outings whenever possible. My best advice for going to the movie theatre is to not just avoid the time but the day that is busiest. I’ve found Monday evenings are generally wonderful for taking your family to the show.

We had planned on taking our kids to the 4 p.m. showing on Friday, but traffic interfered with the plan. This ended up working out better for me, but was a sore reminder of why we don’t take the kids to the movie theatre on prime time, weekend nights. The kids had their hearts set on seeing that movie that day as we’d been discussing it all week. So we agreed to take them to the later showing at 7 p.m.

Before we even got into the theatre the stress hit. One woman cut me off in line and impatiently waved her friend to join her. The friend didn’t move and the lady was furious that I was still in the same place - now between them by her own actions but somehow it was now my fault. Seriously, you’d have thought someone had just stolen her purse for the reaction.

We made it through the maze of people, got some seats and did the bathroom and snacks routine before showtime, skillfully dividing the two kids between us. The show was great, the kids loved it and there were no interruptions - yay!

Leaving was painful. The outside of the theatre was donned in typical Friday night attire: lounging teens in packs (reminds me of hyenas), and partying friends who have already tipped a few back before show time bringing obnoxious volume and attention to everything. I feel myself holding my 8 year old’s hand a little tighter as we walk to the car. She’s SO intrigued with becoming a teenager, she thinks immodesty is equivalent to famous and popular and she’s far too comprehensive with the many sights of making out, smoking, tattoos, bad language. . .etc. I took the opportunity to tell her on the way to the car how frankly scared I am of her becoming a teenager with so much pressure like this. How I worry that if she’ll be strong enough to remember who she is and not follow the crowd. She doesn’t see the big deal, but I do.

There will be a time again when decisions can be made for what I want, what works better for me, etc. Sometimes a date night is needed in the meantime. But this is my family’s time and season, therefore decisions need to be made with them in mind. Pick times and places that won’t add to the frustrations and chaos of taking your kids out and you’ll be a lot happier at the end of the day.

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