I Used to LOVE Disney Movies

Why is it that every time I watch a Disney movie, I end up in tears.  I mean full out, snot dripping down my face, dry heaves, ugly cry, whimpering tears?  I cannot make it through one of those without a visceral, emotional reaction.  Maybe it is worse now that I am a parent since every story line centers around the parent / child relationship.  Sure the scene that makes me cry may not be focused on this relationship but the back-story always includes that deep bond of love. 

So Friday was family movie night & I queued up Monsters, Inc.  All three of the boys and I have had a tradition for the last month to have Friday nights blocked off for Family Movie Night.  Bryan makes his famous Whirly-Bird popcorn and we (gasp!) let the kids eat in the Family Room.  All four of us wedge onto the couch and we watch a Disney cartoon.  We have had a good streak with Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Cars and Tangled.  Each one of them I end up as a sobbing mess while my 4 year old looks at me like I am somehow embarrassing him here in the seclusion of our house.  When he can’t take it anymore, he asks “Mommy, are you crying?”.  I of course am so emotional that I cannot even answer the question.

Tonight is the night that I think I am safe…no montages of toys that were once the center of the universe who are now tossed aside for newer and better.  No final race scenes where the car who has a chance to win gives it all up to help his hero because he has learned a greater lesson from a mentor (read father-figure) that he respects.  No coming of age for a girl stolen from the arms of her parents who loved and adored her so much that they never let a birthday pass without an entire country celebrating her existence.  No, not this time!  This is Billy Crystal & John Goodman making me laugh with one-liners and Pixar’s version of slap-stick comedy. 

So why is it when 10 minutes before the end credits I am a puddle on my couch?  I start to believe that this movie was made for only me; forget that it was released before I ever had children.  Because no one else could possibly love their kids as much & understand the bond that is ever existent between a parent & a child.  That witnessing the idea of saying good-bye to a child who you love so much  (whose cartoon persona in the last hour and a half you swear has come to life on your TV) breaks your heart in two because you know that you could not do it.

Thanks a lot, Pixar!  Thanks a lot, Billy Crystal!  I am yet again the embarrassing Mom whose flame will only increase & expand as the years progress.  It will not end here I am sure.  My children will have many references to point at when reminiscing around family dinners of how I mortified them with my behavior.  Of course, they will not understand until they too are parents and innocently try to do something nice for the loved ones in their house, only to be delivered a Disney sucker-punch.

But don’t worry; next week is the movie Up.  I will be safe from the tears and raw emotion because what could possibly be touching about an old man who lost the love of his life, a foster kid without a mentor, a needy talking-dog who just wants a friend & enough balloons to float a house?  Hey wait a minute...I think I am going to get sucker-punched again!!!

My Friday Night Movie Club!!!  Note the Mickey fan...he may be a bit biased to Disney.