As I was getting you ready for bed Tuesday night, you showed me Mommy’s old cell phone with a cracked screen, and said, “Daddy, watch this.”
I immediately knew what it was from the first note of the song: It was the music video for the song “Our House” by Madness.
You were so excited when you learned that I have owned that CD since I was in high school, along with Men at Work; another band whose string of hits you can’t help but love: “Who Can It Be Now?”, “Down Under”, and “Be Good Johnny”.
This week as I’ve worked from the kitchen table (which currently serves as my office), you have been playing a music video playlist from 1983; which happens to be my favorite year of music.
While you play war with your action figures, along barricades you made from Jenga blocks, you have Mommy’s phone propped up playing the soundtrack: “We can dance if we want to…”
Sunday morning, with Nonna and Papa in town, Mommy had made breakfast for us all. I immediately noticed that you and I had matching “bedhead” hair. The conversation topic was the fact we heard coyotes howling during the night.
Somehow, that discussion inspired me to run in my closet and pull out my “rat pack” puppet. I had bought it right before you were born, as I had planned to use it as a character on one of my children’s programs on my YouTube Channel. But I haven’t had the time to dedicate to making new episodes since you were born.
I got the hunch you would find an appreciation for who I call Magellan the Mouse.
And I was right.
At first, of course, you were skeptical of the giant rat who was apparently trying to share your Cheerios with you. You weren’t afraid of him, you just didn’t know if you were in the mood to share your food with a non-human.
You eventually warmed up to him, though. Then you weren’t so much annoyed with him, as you were just confused on his origin story.
How had you never met this friendly rodent before? After having lived on this planet for nearly a whole year now, and in our house, how does a giant rat just show up?
Why did everyone else just instantly welcome him, like we’d always known him?
But that’s how it is for you. Being the baby of the family, you’ve just learned to roll it, whatever it is… including a giant rat who wants to help you eat your cereal.
A few hours later after lunch, you were winding down, getting ready for your nap. I have no idea how my Ewok action figure from 1983 showed up with your toys, but you chose to clench it in your little hand as Mommy wrapped you up in a blanket to feed you your bottle and then to rock you to sleep.
But before you actually fell asleep, Magellan the Mouse made one more appearance. I have a feeling he’ll be sticking around.
We had just left the San Diego Zoo Safari Park when Grandma (Mommy’s Mommy) decided that after a morning in the California sun, frozen yogurt sounded like a good idea.
So we used the GPS on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander to find a glorious place called The Golden Spoon, a franchise which has apparently been in existence since 1983.
I’ve learned that “pay by the ounce” frozen yogurt shops are indeed safe for me as a vegan, because they always have a sorbet option and fruit selections for my toppings.
We all were very pleased with our choices and it turned out that Grandma had made a good call in suggested we go out for frozen yogurt.
Your brother Jack wanted to eat outside so I took him out to the patio while you, Mommy, and Grandma remained on the sofa inside.
After Jack and I finished our treats, Jack wanted to come see what you were up to.
Fortunately, I took several pictures of what happened next, on both my phone and camera. It made me so proud and gracious as the dad of such precious children.
I captured the moment, as your brother hugged you and held you close. The look on your face clearly revealed how fascinated you are by him. You are truly amazed by your brother. And similarly, he loves to engage you in being cuddled up together.
It’s official: I have cuddlebugs for kids.
And this isn’t something that only happens occasionally. Instead, he does this daily with you.
But in that paramount moment, I felt required to send out an Instagram pretty much immediately, sharing, “Whole lot of love.”
It could have simply been a fun trip for frozen yogurt, but fortunately, I saw a heart-warming moment that I will never forget.
First was this summer’s X-Men Apocalypse, and more recently, Disney’s reboot of Pete’s Dragon, both same in that marvelous year in history. And of course, Netflix’s Stranger Things.
I personally have had an obsession with 1983 since I was in Junior High, about a decade later. The culture, the style, the music, the movies, and the TV shows were so enjoyable.
Even John Mayer backs up my theory in his song, “83”, where he admits, “Had it make in ’83.”
So it makes sense to me that people today, in 2016, continue to enjoy seeing the year 1983 brought back to life.
I am thoroughly impressed by the seemingly flawless way the Duffer Brothers have captured 1983 in their new sci-fi thriller, Stranger Things.
There is no question that Stranger Things is an exceptional TV show, like Breaking Bad and Lost.
But the question you might be asking, as a parent, is at what age Stranger Things would be appropriate for your child to watch.
While I can’t answer that question for you, I can give you a brief overview of elements of the show which ultimately give Stranger Things what I deem as the equivalent of an intense PG-13 rated movie.
Profanity:
While there are no major curse words, like “g—d—“ or “f—“, every episode contains multiple uses of “sh—“ and many of the episodes contain the phrase “son of a b—-“ and/or “d-ck”. I should point out that much of the the profanity is by the 12 year-old boys, in addition to the adult characters.
Sex/Nudity:
Most episodes are free of sensuality, but there is an early episode in which 2 teenagers (who are protagonists) engage in sexual activity. While no nudity is shown, the bedroom scene is not a quick one. The event is referenced briefly again in a later episode, in which the girl is referred to as a “sl-t” by the boy she had sex with.
Violence:
There is violence throughout the series, including a girl’s telepathic ability to break bones and even kill people. Additionally, there are many uses of guns and weapons.
Drugs/Alcohol:
There is occasional use of cigarettes and beer by some of the adult characters.
Dark Themes:
The overall theme of Stranger Things has to do with connecting to a darker, sinister parallel universe; as people are being taken there from the 1983 version of Indiana. Again, one of the main characters is able to excess her telepathic abilities.
Stranger Things is by no means a family friendly show, yet it is definitely fascinating, intriguing, and addicting.
As for a child watching it, I say the best comparison for inappropriate content for children would be Lost; regarding profanity, sex, violence, drugs/alcohol, and dark themes.
However, it’s up to the individual parent to decide at what age.
The new Pete’s Dragon movie takes place in circa-1983, just like this year’s X-Men Apocalypse, as well as Netflix’s summer hit show, Stranger Things. The funny part is, I have no idea why the new Pete’s Dragon movie takes place in the Eighties; it has nothing to do with the plot in any way.
Never at any point do they acknowledge the year. This is simply information you deduce from the clothing, hairstyles, cars, and lack of cell phones. When the movie begins, “1983” doesn’t flash up on the screen.
Similarly, I’m led to believe the movie takes place in either Washington state or Oregon, based on the redwood trees. But they never come out and say that either.
Oh yeah, and, by the way: Take your kids to see this movie!
It is totally worth it. It is the perfect family movie to see in the theater this year. Plenty of heart and adventure, yet not cheesy in any way.
Here’s a breakdown of the new Pete’s Dragon movie, from a “family friendly” perspective:
Profanity:
None; not even any form of “OMG”. There is a mention of literal hell, as the dragon’s eyes are compared to “the color of hell fire.” But I have a feeling no one is going to find that be be offensive.
Sex/Nudity:
Not even a kiss.
Violence:
A crew of men use tranquilizer rifles to hunt down the dragon.
Drugs/Alcohol:
Not even the sight of an empty beer bottle.
Dark Themes:
Just like virtually every Disney movie ever made, the boy becomes an orphan in the opening scene, in the event of a car accident. However, the trauma of this is downplayed greatly: The car is show flipping upside down but the bodies of the parents are not seen.
I strongly recommend this movie. My son just started Kindergarten this week; he’s about 5 and a half years-old. Pete’s Dragon was perfectly relevant and appropriate.
Family Friendly Daddy Blog 