A jenerek family

The new BANNED MOVIE list

Ryan has never been a full-length movie fan. And then, he discovered Monsters Inc. Just about a week and a half ago he actually sat through it, and now he asks to watch it all of the time. The first week was no problem as he found it quite hilarious. Unfortunately, after Thanksgiving weekend when cousin Matt told Ryan there was a monster outside, Monsters Inc. is the first of our movies on the "banned movie" list.

Not sure exactly what got into this kids mind, but now he's scared to death of monsters. He always thinks there is a monster in his room. Multiple times each day I tell him that monsters are not real, he'll never ever see one because they are just pretend and in the movie. He will say, "they scare the boy in the movie" and then I explain that it was just pretend. "Even in the movie Sulley protects Boo and keeps her safe. They are so nice and funny monsters." Then I try a new one, "Monsters don't like music. You can turn on your music or sing if you get nervous." Hmm.. I've got to be sending mixed signals here, "Monsters don't exist, but this is how you get rid of them." sheesh! I think of Jana giving Matt a flashlight to scare away monsters or other moms giving "monster spray."

Yesterday when he asked to watch it, I put on Toy Story instead. In Toy Story I can't think of any scary parts. After about 2 minutes Ryan says, "I don't like this movie." Darn!

Right before the monster thing he would tell me that he was scared of his room because he "didn't want a guy to come in his room." Now, I have NO idea where he got this idea. We do NOT watch television so he couldn't have picked that up from anything on TV and he has only ever watched 4 movies in his life. 2 Baby Songs, one of the Baby Einstein videos, and Monsters Inc., but Monsters Inc was AFTER he was talking about a guy coming in his room. I must say, I'd rather he be scared of monsters than some "bad guy" getting him. I really don't like this part of parenting. I hate the idea of him being scared.

Each time he says he's scared I tell him we can say a prayer and Jesus and angels will keep him safe and protect him. So, last night Derek prayed for him to be safe, and then Ryan asked me to say a prayer too. I prayed that angels would protect him and then he interrupted me and said, "and Sulley." Darn it if I didn't pray that Sulley would keep him safe too. Anything to get his mind off of the scary things and focus on good things. *sigh*

This too shall pass...