WALL_E

My husband purchased the two senior tickets and one child's moments before our granddaughter and I ambled up toward the booth . Our little almost four year old girl fixated on the stairs she was about to climb. She would not budge. We were going to be late for the movie. But she would not falter. A woman and her husband noticed how methodically this child reached for my hand and with her other hand began picking up the orange paper strewn across the theatre entrance. None of the adults noticed. Or if they did, they failed to attend. With each pensive movement, this moment of truth and bewilderment came across her face. "Why is this on the floor, Nana?" From above, you could see my husband gesturing us to come up quickly. But, slowly and leading by example, she innocently, yet deliberately shouted that the "messy ground" needed help. The couple in front of us applauded after seeing the look on the innocent child.

"When do we see WALL-E? she eagerly motioned me to hurry." I think, you might be Eva!

I didn't think she would really understand the movie. She needed a nap following a fully scheduled morning with friends. so imagined she'd be cranky.Poppa and I decided to chance it just the same. It was a Sunday.We like to make it a full day. The only thing I heard for the past week was her voice mimicking a droning WALL-E...followed by EVA...and "Poppa,when can we go?"

I on the other hand, wondered what this creature was all about. Was it an adorable ET or a pathetic expose of the world's deplorable state of affairs. And if so , how could an almost four year old...comprehend.

Well, how many of you have seen this movie. If I had not been slightly sedated, I believe I could have managed to stay up for the entire movie. The little girl sitting on my lap, was mesmerized. She did not fail the reviewers. Following each direction that Wall-E took, our child was right there following.

It was once suggested that the conceptual process of the child is not quite ready to gel before the age of 4. Well that was probably true for me and my generation while I may have still been sucking on my blanket.

But the kids today are incredible. Their social, emotional , mental processes are so highly developed. The children are nurtured beyond their years. To the credit of these fabulous human beings as I see it through the eyes of our grandchild, is an eagerness to please, observe, and learn. Then they are ready to put their achievements into action.

This was clear as I watched our little one following the details from the movie on the earths demise. She understood the message delivered through the eyes of Wall-E. And she was saddened. She asked what happened to make the earth this way?


She was tearful when she noticed Wall=E's isolation. She came alive when he and EVA connected. She related it almost immediately to her friendships as well.She prompted discussion about her playdates with her friends and how important they are to her.


Our grandchild has been attending pre- school since she has been a year old. It is not necessary to justify the reasons for sending a child to pre- school today. After all, so many of the toddlers join the educational system many years prior to kindergarten. Some even start in the womb, I hear.

Initially, I was skeptical. After all, I raised a family while at home with my children, Why are not more parents home with their children.

The moment of truth revealed my overly judgmental attitude. Just because we did it one way, didn't mean that's the way of the future. Our way may or may not have been the best for the time. But that would not mean that you would turn the clock back. It's time to move forward in time for some very good reasons.

Well, pre- school education was not just for learning. It is for socialization as well. Not all homes are created equal. So sometimes it is important to normalize the home environment by creating alternative models.

We live in times where choice is available. Good parenting offers options,teaches by modeling, and creates an atmosphere of guilt free healthy alternatives for their own families. A child's character is built on the foundation of a parents integrity.The quality of time is not based on quantity, but on valuable one to one contact when with the child. Children are honest, and they will let you know if you are really there or removed.

Changing ones rigid philosophy from time when my generation raised children is difficult for some, and becomes the plight of a grandparent. It can also create conflict between the families. After all, our children didn't go to "nursery school" until 3 or 4. And then it was primarily a babysitting service, not necessarily a pre- kindergarten, or possible Harvard experience. Sometimes we may be more critical of our children for making these decisions today.

But understanding the purpose of education, socialization, and grouping children in today's day and age is so different from years ago. The children who grew up in neighborhoods, and were able to go out and play without the so called play dates, are gone. Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers taught our children the way of the world.

So if kids are going to be intellectually stimulated, they must have an emotional connection to other children as well.

In school, and the good day care situations, the children learn early on that trash is something to be recycled. Our children are learning a great deal about preserving the world. They get it so much better than the adults of our generation,who occasionally forget to look on the ground below.

When I asked our little girl if she liked the movie WALL=E, she paused, shuffled her feet while wiping the gum from her shoes. Suddenly we watched a giant size box of popcorn float down a couple stairs,as each person shoved aside the crushed remnant of a box.

Not our little girl."Wall-E would be so mad., right Nana:"

"Why?" I asked.

"Do you think Wall-E and Eva could work at this movie theatre? It's not very clean."