I took my son to see Mr. Popper's Penguins and not to spoil it for anyone, but in the end the divorced couple ends up back together. It made me think of how many movies geared at kids have the divorced parents getting back together. Liar Liar, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Parent Trap (although that's kinda the point of the title) and I'm sure there are many more.
It made me feel sad for kids with divorced parents and wonder why they keep doing that in movies. I feel bad for kids who watch movies where this happens and wish their own parents would reunite when in reality I think that it's a bit rare for divorced parents to live happily ever after together. I realize that there are MANY things that happen in movies which don't happen for real, but I think it's kinda a depressing message.
What do you mamas think?
Haha! You're right Christine! We did hit up the $2 movies! :-)
This is not something I am "worrying about" but rather a sad message for kids when over 50% of marriages end in divorce and kids are usually involved. With such high statistics for divorce it makes me sad when an unrealistic scenario is presented. Thanks for all the thoughts on my movies comments. I did have a message which pointed out Mrs. Doubtfire was an example of a movie where the divorced couple stays apart and it was still a happy ending. Love it!! Thanks Mamas!
I totally agree. It's sad. I divorced when my daughter was 2. She's almost 9 now. She always says stuff about me and her Dad getting together after seeing those movies :(
I dunno, there are a lot of mixed messages in many movies, this is just one more to add to the list. That's why I think it's important to watch tv with your kids and teach them how to separate the fantasy from reality. Personally, I take more issue with all the missing parents in Disney cartoons. In our house that happened. My parents divorced after I turned 2 and remarried before I was 3. Of course they divorced for good when I was 5....but they don't show that part in the movies.
ha! My daughter told me I was not allowed to get back together with her dad. She said those movies don't tell you the whole story. You go back to having only one Christmas, one birthdya, and your parents aren't trying to outdo each other anymore. Of course she was kidding, sorta!
I don't remember any other movies where divorced parents get back together. But I saw this with my 2 kids, hubby and step dtr. I could tell that my dtr (11) was affected by it and it did bother me. When I got divorced, AZ requires each parent to complete a parenting class. in the class they say that no matter how young or old your kids are, they will ALWAYS want their parents back together. I wish I could have had a heads up or something since it even made me a little sad that my marriage didnt work out even tho my husband now is the best thing that happend to us.
I hadnt thought about it before, but yeah, i think it is kind of misleading. adults know that movies are mostly make believe and that movie endings rarely mirror real life. but in these cases, i think that they shouldnt have movies with theses kind of endings simply because it can dissapoint to many kids who think if they do the things in the movie then mommy and daddy will get back together and when it doesnt happen they would probably blame themselves...good question!!
I see plenty of movies with divorced parents where they don't get back together. What's really sad is in the movie 2012 where they only get back together in the end b/c the step dad is killed off.
How about, people stop blaming movies that show family values and start working on their marriages or family relationships? I know too many people that get divorced for ridiculous reasons and just plain communication fails or 'no longer passionate for their spouse". Obviously this isn't the answer for everyone, but really? I had a family member that divorced for several years late in life. They later got remarried and have been ever since.
(Something tells me you saw this this morning at the $2.00 movies like I did.) I was thinking the same thing. They always have a boyfriend or girlfriend they are will to dump too. Granted it does happen but not that easliy like it does in the movies.
I think you're thinking too hard and should find something else to worry about.
A lot of do but I can think of one that doesn't - Mrs. Doubtfire
