Tonight the kids gathered at the log cabin for dinner. It was the first day without rain in so long that everyone had to get out of the house. Anyway, the kids gathered at the cabin for a cookout. Most of the neighborhood parents came, too. It was a nice impromptu afternoon/evening get together.
There’s a relatively new website written by a friend of a friend. It’s called “What We Watched.” Anyway, our tastes are pretty similar, as are our life experiences. In other words, she is somewhat partial to Britcoms and movies from the U.K.
One of the kids was on the computer checking to see what her latest review was and discovered that she had watched a movie named “Charlie Bartlett.” It’s an American movie starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Anton Yelchin.
One of the kids had heard of the movie so he dashed off to rent it. Anyway, I’m sure the movie shocked some of the parents — at least made them uneasy. Perhaps, those of us who are older were more receptive — even to the language and the actions. You see, we don’t have the responsibility of teenagers any more. And — and this is a BIG AND — we can admit that we did crazy stuff as kids. That may be why the kids hang around so much. We don’t judge them, but we do try to guide them ( hopefully) in the right direction.
Well, the truth of the matter is we have one kid in the neighborhood who is — slightly retarded is no longer socially acceptable so — slightly mentally challenged. He’s a special education student, but the neighborhood kids include him in everything. We also have a couple of young gay teenagers. I’m not so sure they are totally out of the closet, but their parents must know although there has never been any mention of it. But, why would anyone mention sexual orientation?
Anyway, “Charlie Bartlett” contained almost every scenario imaginable — even down the kids who go to boarding schools, and one whose father is in jail for tax evasion. I’m not going to condone any of the behaviors in the movie — or make any judgment calls on real life. That’s not my life’s mission by any means.
But, if there was one thing that was really enlightening it was as the movie ended some of the kids and some of the parents began to discuss the movie — from the manipulative kid, to the kids with all their personal problems, even to some of the adult problems. I must say that it was a bit uncomfortable for a while.
Maybe the discomfort was a good thing. I noticed as a few of the kids and parents left on their walk home, some had their arms around each other. Others were talking to one another, parents to children and children to parents. Of course, they may all wake up tomorrow with a different outlook on life but for tonight families made connections — real connections.
Today I am thankful for a movie night with the neighborhood kids and parents.
By the way, parents may want to watch the movie before watching it with their kids. It may not be suitable for some families.
