My son's a winter baby. And when it's cold outside, parents put in a little more work bundling up their babies to get out the door.
When he was an infant, I would spell off my partner by taking him for walks around the neighbourhood. And if I were feeling ambitious I'd strap him into a front carrier and take him to the movies.
Movies for Mommies is a terrific and useful diversion for stay-at-home parents or care-givers. They set up diaper stations in the lobby and I was charmed to see a line of strollers parked at the front of the theatre below the big screen. The program caters to parents who are caring for babies by creating a nurturing environment, comfy enough to nurse, soothe and cuddle.
For parents of infants, going to the movies helps break up the day. And I believe it's more about changing things up than watching every frame of a picture, because it’s strongly likely that you’ll miss important plot or character developments if you’re caring for an infant.
My son and I saw the Neil Young concert documentary "Heart of Gold".
It was fantastic. Shot in a gentle steady way with beautiful long takes and telling close up shots, Johnathan Demme's direction put Neil Young and his music front and centre.
There's no plot to follow, which was perfect for when I took my son to the lobby to soothe him and change his diaper. As my son checked out the red lights of the exit sign, we listened to the music coming from the theatre.
Back in our seats for when Neil Young performed "Old Man", I was transported by the music and the experience of holding my contented son in my arms, savouring the minutes until we'd make the trek home.
This was a couple of years ago. "Heart of Gold" is no longer playing, but check out Movies for Mommies if you want to get out the door and catch up on the latest films.
