Time for the naughty chair!
After an article from the Telegraph arrived in our mailbox today, we conquered our horrified astonishment, picked our slackened jaw up off the desk and immediately called in an expert: Supernanny.* Take it away, Jo-Jo!
You’ve been very, very naughty!
What sort of person takes preteen boys who have already expressed a complete lack of interest in the proceedings to a grownup’s film in a crowded cinema, and then allows them to comment aloud and carry on throughout the film as though they’re sitting in your own living room? Don’t you know that the other people in the cinema paid nine or ten pounds, which translates to nearly twenty dollars U.S., for one ticket mind you, to see the film, and would prefer to enjoy it in the peace and quiet that the social contract demands in a public cinema?
If it was so important that the children see their little cousin, perhaps a private screening could have been arranged? A DVD screener, perhaps, that could be watched as home, and little Dave’s brush with greatness rewound as much as desired, and boring talking scenes skipped entirely? When one writes for the papers, one should have the wherewithal to arrange such things. Does Jo-Jo need to make up a schedule for you?
Mummy, your behaviour is unacceptable. You must go to the naughty chair for…how many minutes is that now? One minute for every year of your age, and Jo-Jo will know if you’re lying.
*Legal Disclaimer: This post was not really written by the Supernanny. It was written by Mags pretending to be the Supernanny. Just in case anyone is confused.
September 28th, 2005 at 9:04 am
I thought the movie is rated PG. She thought it was rated G, perhaps
September 28th, 2005 at 12:57 pm
No! Mum was REALLY bad this time. No excuse.
September 28th, 2005 at 1:05 pm
The UK classification is U - universal - suitable for all.
September 28th, 2005 at 1:32 pm
Oh my god! If I was in that audience, I’d want my money back.
September 28th, 2005 at 1:34 pm
Just because it’s rated U or G doesn’t mean kids will like it, though. The application of a little common sense would have been useful here. Why ruin everyone else’s experience dragging kids to a movie they don’t want to see? Did she really expect them to sit still and be quiet while being bored to tears for two hours? And if she didn’t, that’s worse. She purposely ruined the enjoyment of other paying customers.
September 28th, 2005 at 1:38 pm
I have the very great pleasure of being close friends with someone who is not afraid to ask parents to keep their children quiet. It very rarely works, but is satisfying to watch.
September 28th, 2005 at 3:32 pm
Wow! I would be SO mad if that happened while I was in the theater!!!
September 28th, 2005 at 8:49 pm
Me too!
If she could afford to take her kids to see this you’d think she’d have enough to hire a babysitter!
September 28th, 2005 at 8:52 pm
Speaking as a parent of three young tackers, I wouldn’t want to destroy my own pleasure in watching (any!) JA adaptation in the cinema. Very distracting indeed.
September 29th, 2005 at 1:12 am
Taking an eight-year-old boy to see Pride and Prejudice is Child Torture. Just ask my boys, none of whom I would force to endure such misery.
September 29th, 2005 at 12:28 pm
Clearly Nickelodeon would be better for the boys than watching Darcy propose to Elizabeth circa 1797. Someone forgot to put common sense in their coffee that morning
September 29th, 2005 at 5:52 pm
My son and daughter were exposed to the story very early on, and although I didn’t make them sit through any of it forcebly, Im sure that even my son can still quote a few lines from the BBC mini series!!!!
I definitley wouldn’t take them to see P&P cold turkey.
At the mention of P&P my son automatically quotes the part where Kitty says “Are you winking at me Mamma?”
September 29th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
Your son can memorize P&P? May I ask why? Alot of boys would be bored out of their mind.
September 29th, 2005 at 8:21 pm
That is sooo cute, Vee!!!
I think it’s kinda cool that your kids can quote Jane! With such early beginnings and an enthusiastic Janeite mom they’re sure to have some fond memories of Jane later on. So… keep on winking mamma!
September 29th, 2005 at 9:05 pm
Oh, Vee — I’m trying to do the same too .. at least with my daughter. Unfortunately, DH is not very supportive — as he’s just discovered this thing called “jealousy zone” over Mr Darcy
September 29th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
Yes I knew you would think it strange.But I believe its because he knows it will get a laugh out of me. They’re both young adults now, so its nice for them to take a little interest in what I like.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:41 pm
Hey, if they like it, cool, but the kids in the article made it pretty clear they had zero interest in the film.
September 29th, 2005 at 10:24 pm
Mags/ Definitely agree. I blame Supernanny for that blunder. The kids are only a reflection of how they’re brought up. So how come she is so good at telling others what to do?