I Have To Rant

This is a non-political rant about something that's still annoying me a few hours after the fact. Let me say first off that I'm not trying to offend anyone reading this who has small children, nor am I trying to paint anyone with a broad brush. I love children, and I recognize that most parents are capable of figuring out what is and what is not appropriate for their kids. However, there is a segment of the population that seems completely clueless, and this is at whom my rant is directed.

I went to the movies tonight with my family, because what better way to cap off a day of sitting around, watching football and eating, than to spend a few more hours sitting in front of a screen and eating more? My brother and my mom saw "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" while my dad and I went to see "Australia," in honor of everyone's favorite new Nashvillian, Nicole Kidman. It was a great movie, beautifully directed and superbly acted, albeit a little long. I don't get to the movies that often, so to see one that may actually be in contention for a few Oscars was a real treat.

A treat that was almost ruined by a loud three-year old. Someone had brought their toddler along to see "Australia." She chattered behind me for a good chunk of the movie, and spent the last half hour running up and down the aisle of the theater, with no one making any attempt to stop her.

I know I probably have no business giving parenting advice at 22, but I know that at that age, my mother would not have hesitated to yank me outside if I were acting up in a movie theater or a restuarant. But even if the children are well-behaved, this movie was absolutely not appropriate for them. It's a three-hour long movie, with plenty of violence and colorful language. Just because a movie has a PG-13 rating doesn't mean that it's completely safe. There are some situations that are just not appropriate for any small child to be in, no matter how well-behaved.

Please, people--leave the little ones with Grandma, hire a babysitter (which is not terribly expensive when you consider how much movie tickets and snacks cost), or better yet, go see a kid's movie. I hear the new Pixar movie "Bolt" is supposed to be good. But I wouldn't complain about children being loud in a children's movie, so please have a little courtesy for grown-ups trying to enjoy a grown-up movie.

And go see "Australia," and say hi to Nicole if you see her around town, because I still haven't.