Sunday, December 25, 2016

What Happened After I Let My Kids Watch 'Christmas Vacation'

I'm usually pretty strict on what my kids watch. The oldest watched nothing but PBS until he was 6 years old. As the kids get older, I've been a bit less stricter about what they've watched (as long as it was kid friendly). This season, they've been asking (and asking, and asking, and asking more) to watch Christmas Vacation because they overheard me say it was my favorite Christmas movie.

Last Saturday I was desperately trying to get everything done before our family Christmas that afternoon. Hubs was at work, so it was just me and the minis, who were running around the house. In an attempt to calm them and NOT lose my sanity I told them they could watch a Christmas movie. We spent the next 20 minutes looking through our DVD's, Netflix, and Hulu only to be met with "I don't want to watch that."

Then one of them asked, "well, can we watch Christmas Vacation?" They all eagerly looked at me. They had found a movie they agreed on and were excited about. I mulled it over for about three seconds before saying, "okay, fine." I don't consider this a weak mom moment, but rather a sanity saving move that ensured everything was ready for Christmas dinner and me looking presentable.

For the next 97 minutes the minis were entertained. Very entertained. They laughed at all of the appropriate laughing parts and overall thoroughly enjoyed it. When the movie was done they sat around saying their favorite lines from the movie, which happened to be none of the inappropriate parts. I was patting myself on the back as we walked into family Christmas dressed nicely, our portion of dinner complete (and edible), and the minis extremely happy. Big mom win.

Cut to Monday, late morning. The boys were at school and Lil Miss was home with me (her break having already started). It was clean up time and I saw her pause by the window. I didn't think too much of it and continued to help one of the younger ones clean up the blocks. Then, I overheard this conversation:

Girl: What are you doing Elizabeth?
Elizabeth: Smoking.
Girl: Oh.
Elizabeth: Out the window so no one can smell it.

I whip around (keep in mind Hubs and I are not smokers and my kids have had very little exposure to anyone smoking): Elizabeth! Are you pretending to smoke?
Elizabeth: No mom! Stop it! (along with a very obvious eye roll)


I've also been told by grandparents and sitters that the minis have recited entire scenes for them, word for word, action by action. I'll consider it a mom win for that day. I'll apologize for any friends, family, or little friends who may hear the movie word for word. On that note: "we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny fucking Kaye." Merry Christmas!

* If you are not familiar with the scene my daughter is copying, I encourage you to watch Christmas Vacation to make this holiday season complete.