I often quote lines, sayings, funny names, etc. from movies and TV shows, particularly to my daughter. Every morning, I send her off to the school bus with a hug and a wish to "Have fun stormin' de castle!" She's noted a few times that I always say that, and how strange she thinks it is. I suppose by the time she's seven or so, she might be ready for The Princess Bride, and hearing Billy Crystal say the line will no doubt be a big moment for her. Probably her first big "so that's where it's from" moment.
Ro already asks about the movies and the posters in the rec room, and seems fascinated by all the movies Mom and Dad like that she will someday be old enough to watch. She's in no hurry to see anything off the George Romero shelf, but I think Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark are high on her list. I was six when Star Wars came out, and she's watching some pretty intense kids' movies (How to Train Your Dragon was a big hit), so maybe I can show her Star Wars this summer. Should be a big bonding thing, watching the same movie Dad watched at roughly the same age.
Anyway, I've noticed that the references I make to my daughter are getting more obscure and coming from much farther back in my memory. I don't know if that's because her enjoyment of it, and her appetite for funny old voices and sayings is causing me to search my memory more deeply, that everything being new to her is causing me to dig up more and more to share, or that my mind is going back to when I was a kid because I'm talking to a kid.
The example that got me thinking was when we were pretending to cast magic spells. Among all the funny magic words we came up with, I made her laugh with "Frammin' on the jim-jam, frippin' at the krotz." I don't remember the last time I read a comic strip in a newspaper, much less the Wizard of Id, and I was never a huge fan of it, but that recurring incantation just stuck with me, I guess.
When I got thinking about it, my mom did the same thing. When the Schmoo apeared on TV in 1979, I was the only kid around who was familiar with the character's origins in Li'l Abner comics. And at Christmastime, Mom would always sing "Deck Us All with Boston Charlie," making Pogo part of my childhood, even before I knew who Pogo was.
Any of the other parents on the board experience the same phenomenon?
Absolutely! It's one of the delights of being a parent! :cheers:
My kids are now all of an age that they find it cool to be 'up' on pop culture history (among other trivia), and they really enjoy being 'in the know' about obscure bits that come up in their daily lives - movies etc. And their reactions when they finally notice "OH! So THAT is where that is from!" are a lot of fun - for me. :wink: Music, TV, movies, books...it's all fair game.
I can remember what a blast it was for me when my Gr 9 history teacher thought he'd stump the class with questions about The Shadow. Little did he know that my Dad had the shows on audio cassette...lol! So sometimes I do deliberately feed my kids information to run past their teachers - it's the least I can do! (And because it's how my mind works - it's a colourful clutter in there - and I think the material is fun in its own right) My eldest, when he was still in high school (so 4 years ago or so) was delighted when he floored one of his teachers by bursting into "I'm Hen-er-y the Eighth I am!" when the teacher made a passing reference - even more so when the teacher goggled when Sheppard told him "my mom has it on vinyl" :buggedout:
Bad puns... Movie lines, commercials. Whatever comes to mind to get that "Daaaad"
-Ed
I haven't started doing this yet, my first child is just now turning 2 so talking is too new to get into references, but I am definitely looking forward to introducing him to all sorts of movies and quotes. I know my dad and I bonded over sci-fi/horror movies and I look forward to doing the same with my kids.
Quote from: The Artist formerly known as Ed on November 30, 2010, 05:04:09 PM
Bad puns... Movie lines, commercials. Whatever comes to mind to get that "Daaaad"
-Ed
Hey, I got no kids, but I sure identify with this thread.
Cool daddy-oh, Cool.