I really, really needed it. My sanity was hanging on by a very thin, short thread. I just needed a day all to myself. A day where my needs were the only ones that I needed to worry about.
So I took a personal day from work, sent the kids off to school and daycare and had Jeff go to work.
It was awesome. At first the silence of the house was a bit overwhelming but I quickly adjusted.
I spent the morning on the couch, watching TNT, blogging and sipping coffee.
It was heavenly.
No one asked me for juice or told me that they had a poopy diaper. No one needed me to give the pain medication or needed their bed linens changed. The only time I got up from the couch was to get more coffee and to get the power cord for my lap top.
But after a while, I decided that I was hungry so I thought that taking myself out to lunch would be a good idea. And while I was at it, I thought going to see a movie would be in order too.
I decided to go and see 'The Blind Side' with Sandra Bullock. If you have not seen this movie, you really should. It is very good. Just the right mix of heart warming and funny. Plus it gave me the idea that I may need to adopt an older child for the free child care that it would provide (ok, I am kidding but it's kind of nice to think about).
As I was paying an arm and a leg for some popcorn and a drink so big I could swim in it, I saw something that caught my eye. There was a sign that was propped up between the ticket counter and the concession counter. It said,
"No One Under 6
Admitted to Movies
Rated R after 6pm"
Admitted to Movies
Rated R after 6pm"
This sign really confused me. At first, I wondered why in the world, there was a need for this sign. Do people really take their young children into movies that have been rated R? Obviously, they must since there is such a sign and I have seen young children in movies that were not exactly child appropriate.
But I wondered if maybe before 6pm, the rated R movies were toned down a bit. Maybe movie theaters were sent two copies of a movie, the before 6pm addition and then the after 6pm addition.
My curiosity got the better of me so I asked the teenaged kid who was getting me my popcorn.
Me: So I was just wondering, are you guys sent two copies of a movie?
The Kid: Huh?
Me: You know, like one that is more tame that is shown before 6pm for kids and one that is more racy that is shown after 6pm?
The Kid: Huh?
Me: You see the sign right there? About no one under 6 let in after 6 pm to the rated R shows, I just wanted to know if you guys got two copies of a rated R movie, a normal one and one that is more kid friendly?
The Kid: *blank stare*
Me: Oh never mind.
The Kid: Ummm, yeah, do you want butter on your popcorn?
Well, that conversation was a waste of time and brain cells. I guess I may not ever get an answer to my question. It is just going to be one of life's great mysteries. Right up there with, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop or who really is responsible for the crop circles?
But I wondered if maybe before 6pm, the rated R movies were toned down a bit. Maybe movie theaters were sent two copies of a movie, the before 6pm addition and then the after 6pm addition.
My curiosity got the better of me so I asked the teenaged kid who was getting me my popcorn.
Me: So I was just wondering, are you guys sent two copies of a movie?
The Kid: Huh?
Me: You know, like one that is more tame that is shown before 6pm for kids and one that is more racy that is shown after 6pm?
The Kid: Huh?
Me: You see the sign right there? About no one under 6 let in after 6 pm to the rated R shows, I just wanted to know if you guys got two copies of a rated R movie, a normal one and one that is more kid friendly?
The Kid: *blank stare*
Me: Oh never mind.
The Kid: Ummm, yeah, do you want butter on your popcorn?
Well, that conversation was a waste of time and brain cells. I guess I may not ever get an answer to my question. It is just going to be one of life's great mysteries. Right up there with, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop or who really is responsible for the crop circles?
Some things, I guess are just not meant to be known.
38 comments:
What a weird sign.
My guess is that parents might be bringing their children in to see those movies, sort of a backwards "Mom's Morning Out"? If so, they should change the sign to say no children under six at R-rated movies EVER!
Your day does sound heavenly-- a tough thing to read as I head into work on a Monday morning, though!
~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom
Your day off sounds HEAVENLY!!
it's because a child's ticket is cheaper than an adult's. and they don't want children possibly wasting seats they could be charging full price for. all of that, only if, they sell out the showing.
it has nothing to do with the actual rating, it's a loop hole.
Oh I LOVE days like that! You can just feel free to have a little party for yourself. And I can't believe that people actually DO take their underage kiddos to rated R movies after 6:00. The same people take their kids to Walmart at midnight. Not that I go to Walmart at midnight.
I don't think theaters are sent 2 movies, I just think there are actually parents out there that will take their kids to see an R rated movie with them... I don't get it. That is sad, really sad.
Anyway, glad you had a great day to yourself!! What a wonderful idea!! :)
I love that sign!
I hate that it is needed though.
If you can afford to hit the movies on a Friday night, pony up for a babysitter, or wait two months until the thing hits DVD.
Not that I'm judging :-)
Your day sounds incredible. Good for you for doing that for yourself!!
That is weird. People are "awful" and take their young kids to "R" rated movies... but I think a lot of people take their infants to movies (which apparently is alright before 6pm?).
I have to say that I am jealous of your "alone time." I am feeling SO drained at the present moment and could definitely use some time to myself.
- Melissa
Sound like you had an absolutely wonderful day! Good for you!
And yeah, that sign is just wrong and sad it is needed... who takes a kid under 6 to an R rated movie at all??? Oh don't get me started.
That is confusing!
a day to yourself? oh man...I wish. Or an hour LOL
that sign is weird. I bet some people do take their kids to R rated movies. weird weird weird.
Oh how I could use a day off right about now!
In my opinion NO children under the age of 12 should be allowed in ANY show after 8 pm! If I go to one more movie with my sweetie at 9:00 and there is a family with 3 kids under the age of 5 there I am going to hurt someone!
I agree with Ben Collins...they just don't want to sell a child's ticket for an R-rated movie because they want to make more money.
Children under six--or under 17--should not be going to rated R movies. That "R" rating means "restricted." So much for that.
(Although I admit that my hubby rents those vampire/guy flicks that are rated R, and he and my 14-year-old love them...but then, he's watching them with her at home and can fast-forward through anything inappropriate, so he's still in control...so it's still, in a sense, restricted.)
Yeah, I'm a prude.
But, hey, in spite of Mr. Intelligent manning the concession stand, it sounds like you have a really lovely day! Good for you!!!
6?! i was hoping it would be a misprint and supposed to be 16. wow. that is disturbing...
but hey, glad you got a day off! i'll try not to be too jealous. :)
That is just bizarre.
I hope you got butter.
my ex doesn't bother much with the ratings either. He just tells my kid to cover her eyes. He doesn't take her to R rated movies but has no porblem with the PG-13 ones and she is six. Nice huh? Nothing I can do about it. So no, I doubt there are two versions, just parents who don't care very much.
You got a day off?! Color me jealous. That's green, right? Well I'm green right now. Positively green. Mostly because you were alone and then, like, 40% because you got to go to a movie.
jealous of your day too. i'm lucky to get an hour here and there.. and that's becoming a rarity...
oh, and i'm responsible for the crop circles. all of them. mystery solved. can't help you with the R movies thing though...
good question...when ryan and i went to see hangover...you know the bach party movie...there was a mom and her 15 year old son, watching together in front of us. can you say awkward???
It's just sad that that sign is necessary. I ran out to the grocery store the other day around 10ish at night and was amazed at the number of kids I saw...my kids had been in bed of hours!
Totally weird. And says something about the theater, I think. They don't want anyone under 6 in the theater of a rated R movie after 6 pm because of a possible disturbance, I'm sure.
I am so jealous!! Haha. Good for you tho. As for the sign...that's just crazy....and I will say my friend took me to see Flatliners for my birthday and there were little squirts in the audience. That movie is weird and disturbing. What were they thinking???
The sad thing is, people DO bring young children to rated R movies. I remember I went to see Paranormal Activity and in walked this Mom with a child who couldn't have been older than five. I realize that some people love going to movies but I'm sorry, when you have kids and no babysitters, I feel you should SKIP the inappropriate ones.
A whole day to yourself? Heavenly! Someday, I'll get a day like that.
I never even go at night because it's so dang expensive!!!
Ya know our movie theater has the same sign! And I had the same reaction - who are these people subjecting their small children to R films? In what world is that ok? Honestly, if I was at an R film (especially one with violence or scary themes) I would go get a manager and tell them there was a kid in the theater. Not that it apparently matters to managers- given that crazy sign!!
Hats off to you for taking a day to yourself!! Everyone should do this ... even before they are at the end of their rope.
And I've seen very young children in R-rated movies ... but I always go before 6PM ... not that this should make a difference. I think they want to provide a "child-free" environment" for the evening moviegoers but still ... no one under 18 should be in there anyway!!
an ENTIRE day to yourself??? BLISS!!! I cannot remember the last time I had one....
my question is were you able to do so without any guilt?
Wasn't Blind Side a great movie??
Good for you on taking an entire day for yourself...you deserve it!!
I have no clue about that sign I think it is stupid anyone would take their little one into a rated R movie even though when hubs and I saw Zombieland there was a girl maybe 9 in there with her parents.
and PS I am very jealous right now!!
Wow! I totally want a day off. That sounds like pure bliss. I can't tell you the last time I went to a movie at the theater!
I get overwhelmed in my house when there's no one here, too. It only happens about once a year so I can handle it!! I thought Blind Side was the best movie ever. So glad you enjoyed your day. Good for you, Jen!
Who are these icky parents? How awful that they would take their kids to rated R movies!
I've heard that movie is good. Good for you for taking a day just for you! :)
Sounds like heaven. You definitely deserve a break now and then.
It really is shocking they need those signs. Who does that?
Bobbi and I went to see Love Happens a while back and there were TONS of kids in the movie. Anywhere from baby to 12 years old. I have no idea what it's rated but it was for ADULTS.
If you can't afford a babysitter then stay home!!
Glad you enjoyed a day off. That sign blows my mind in so many different ways. I would have had to get an answer to that one. It really is no surprise that idiot parents out there take there small children to R rated movies. It is still sad though.
Oh, that sign is used here a lot too. Because people are always bringing their small children into movies. Any movie. Scary. Raunchy. (We had kids in the theatre when we saw The Hangover!)
I am so happy for you that you got a day to yourself. Truth be told...... a bit jealous.
I actually laughed out loud when I read, "The Kid: *blank stare*" I have had that look more times from people than I can count. It seems obvious enough to me what I am asking, why don't they get it?????
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