I’ve always had a passion for films, and I dreamed of the day when my family could enjoy them together. My partner has been eager to introduce our three daughters to his beloved films from the ’80s ever since they first tuned into a certain animated series. “Not again with the whiny character,” I chuckled, telling him they weren’t quite ready for the classics.
When our girls moved past the Jessie and iCarly phase, he declared it was time to dive into “real movies,” starting with Star Wars. He anticipated my excitement, but I hesitated. “I don’t think they’re ready for that just yet,” I replied, struggling to recall the films myself.
“How about The Goonies?” he suggested enthusiastically.
I laughed, “No way, it might not hold up.”
“Goonies is a classic! They’ll love it!” he insisted, mimicking the famous line “Baby Ruth” in a playful manner.
I decided to embrace the moment; sometimes you just have to let things unfold. We gathered the girls and explained we were about to watch a movie from our childhood.
Finley, our youngest at six, was shocked. “You had TVs back then?”
“Very funny! Yes, we had TVs, and we watched movies. This one is called The Goonies. Your dad loved it, and I think you will too,” I said.
Our middle daughter shot me a dramatic eye roll.
As the film started, the title appeared in bubble letters, prompting them to read it aloud: Goonies. “What’s a goonie?” they asked.
“A goonie is someone who feels out of place,” my partner clarified.
“Were you a Goonie, Dad? Did you not fit in?” Finley inquired, patting his shoulder sympathetically.
“No, I wasn’t a Goonie. Just watch the movie,” he replied, a mix of annoyance and endearment showing on his face.
I stifled a laugh as Josh Brolin appeared on screen in his iconic sweatsuit, complete with sweatband.
“Why is he dressed like that? Did he have surgery, and regular clothes hurt him?” Finley asked innocently.
After about thirty minutes of polite viewing, my husband beamed at me. “See? They like it! Right, girls?”
Silence filled the room.
“It’s good, right?” he pressed hopefully.
The three girls exchanged glances, then replied, “Actually, Dad, it isn’t very good. It’s kind of boring.”
“It’s alright, girls,” I interjected. “Why don’t you go jump on the trampoline?”
“Sorry, Dad. We prefer movies that aren’t from the olden days. But you can keep watching,” they dashed out before we could change their minds.
A few weeks later, we attempted another movie night, this time with Back to the Future. We ordered it on demand, made popcorn, and squeezed onto the couch.
“What does ‘Back to the Future’ mean? Shouldn’t it be ‘To the Future’ or ‘Back in Time’? You can’t go back to the future, can you?” Avery asked.
My partner took a deep breath. “Can we just watch the movie, girls?”
They settled back, making an effort to stay quiet this time.
To our surprise, they became engrossed in the film. The high school setting resonated with them, and despite my vague memories of racy language, I felt confident they could handle it, especially since they had seen Pitch Perfect.
My partner shot me several delighted looks as we watched. After finishing the Back to the Future trilogy, the girls expressed interest in more films from “the olden days.” We even purchased the Star Wars trilogy during a Blockbuster clearance sale. They watched Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back back-to-back, and when my partner went to work, they eagerly dove into Return of the Jedi, which brought him both disappointment and joy—he was thrilled they loved it, but wished he could have shared that moment with them.
Connecting our childhood favorites with our children is a unique experience. While we may never share the same childhood, guiding them through the magic of our past feels like a delightful playdate. Perhaps it’s time to introduce them to Can’t Buy Me Love…
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Summary
This article reflects on the experience of introducing children to beloved childhood films and the challenges of bridging generational gaps in entertainment. Through shared movie nights, families can connect over the nostalgia of the past while creating new memories together.