Last updated on October 19th, 2020 at 06:52 am
So for this monthβs post, we want to know what a βnight inβ looks like in your household. What youβre eating, how youβre sitting, where, when and what youβre watching, and ultimately how you keep the peace when itβs time to choose a show or movie.
–Netflix Stream Team February Prompt
With two kids under 3,Β every night is a night in for the Palmers, but more so for two worn-out parents than the four of us together, since one has a 7:30 bedtime and the other can’t see much yet with but a month of life under his belt. And with the 2016 Oscars now behind us, it was anΒ excellent opportunity for Sarah and I to see all the movies we had absolutelyΒ no time to see this past year (though weΒ are looking to correct that with the weekly date nights we’ve now scheduled in.)
That said, entertainment hasn’t vanished from our livesβsometimes, the stars align and we manage to take something in as a couple. Sometimes it’s fluff. Sometimes it’s serious. And sometimesβevery now and thenβit’s something resonating somewhere inside, reminding you that the person you’ve becomeΒ mightΒ notΒ be the one you always thought you were.
So for your consideration, here’s a story I’ve never told anyone beforeβone about love.
Longtime readers and I have already established I was aΒ completely different Casey Palmer before kids. My life was fun, sure, but I lacked a real sense ofΒ purpose.
I thought I’d found everything I needed in my life β I’d married a beautiful woman; had amazing friends and family; and was managing pretty well at standing on my own feet in this big, bad world. On paper I had a solid job, I was saving money, andΒ we constantlyΒ painted the town in varying hues of red, figuring we’d make the most of what God gave us.
But I didn’t know then how much all that doesn’t evenΒ matter when you’ve got unconditional love in your life. We’re born into our families, and weΒ decide whether weΒ marry our significant othersΒ after courtship, but children are the ultimate testβespecially when weΒ choose to have them, and we find ourselves dealing with every random thing our genetic mΓ©lange has to offer up, but through the tantrums, the tears and everything else that comes with parenthood, it often takes little but a simple cute display to remind youΒ why you love them. And while reminders come oftenβwhen they hug you when you get home from work or cry for you in the middle of the nightβit’s really when you’re hit by those curve balls that you remember the feeling most.
AndΒ About Time was the latest one to smack me upside the head.
Starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams,Β About Time isn’t your typical romantic comedy…
At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.
–Source: IMDB
Now, with my lack of love for romcoms, I went in with low expectations. ButΒ About Time delivered with laughs, gaffes, and a storyline that had me giving a crap about the characters! Not only did I notΒ hate the movie, it was actually starting to grow on me in a cutesy, charming kind of way!
But what ultimately hit me was the storyline between TimΒ and his Dad, ending in a way thatΒ really shows the strength of their bondβit got me right in theΒ feels. It was a solid allegory for the love I want to show my boys, and who knowsβmaybe we’ll film ourΒ own story someday!
So while it wasn’t a movie choice typical of what you’d see for a “family night in”, its amusing depictions of love and parenthoodβwith the children becoming parentsΒ themselvesβmay have been exactly what we needed to remind us that we’re not alone! Give it a watch if you’ve got a couple of hours to spare ????
What do you call a family movie night with overtired parents after their two kids under three have gone to bed? SYNCHRONIZED COUCH WARMING!
If I take anything from the past month and the copious amount of TV I consumed (because huge series likeΒ Tales from the 2.9 really won’t write themselves…), it’s thisβjust because you have little guysΒ shadowing your every move because you’reΒ pretty much the centre of their universe, it doesn’t mean life has to stop beingΒ fun. It doesn’t mean you’ll never spend quality time with your significant other againβyou just might need to be moreΒ intentional about it. You’re both responsible for your happinessβget to it!
With March upon us, you may want to check out some of the awesome that Netflix has to offer with titles like House of Cards season 4 (the 4th), the second season of Marvel’sΒ Daredevil (the 19th), or Marvel’s Ant-ManΒ the surprising audience pleaser that’s outΒ now!
As for me, the hustle’s all still very real, and I’m still getting my Netflixin’ in with the first season ofΒ Better Call Saul, because what’s better than the origin story of everyone’s favourite crooked lawyer fromΒ Breaking Bad?
I hope you all enjoy everything the month ahead has to offer, and may your life be filled with belly laughs, heartfelt tears, and quality moments you can share with friends, family and anyone else looking for a little change of pace in their lives!
Until the next episode, I remain,
–case p.
*Let’s talk Peppa Pig.
WhoΒ greenlit this show?! All it teaches is having a bad attitude, never worrying about consequences, and playing in the mud as often as possible without any scolding for getting completely filthy, becauseΒ duh, they’reΒ pigs. I need to talk to my daycare operator about why sheΒ ever introduced Little Man to this travesty ????
Disclaimer: I wrote this post as part of the Netflix Stream Team where they hook a blogger up with goodies in the mail each month in exchange for words. And images. And maybe a joke or two.
I’d like to think I succeeded in this department with this post ????