Away we go

Just saw Sam Mendes' Away We Go last night at a free screening on the Paramount Lot (Thanks Writress). It's the story of a couple in search of a new home in anticipation of their first child being born. As they travel around the country, there are great cameos throughout by people like Allison Janney, Jim Gaffigan, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

It was interesting because it showed new and different ways for people to be terrible parents in film. We're beyond the days of distant 1950's fathers who are never around, or the overbearingly strict parents. These were bad hippie parents who don't believe in things like Strollers and breast feed their kids past the point when they're talking.

I'm sure that there were weird parents during the 70's and 80's too. They just weren't on my radar as much. Plus I find myself watching these kinds of stories now and identifying more with the parents than the kids, which is something I'm still a bit freaked by. I mean, I'm someone who likes to act childish from time to time, so it's strange for me when I find myself not getting what kids are doing.

After the movie Writress and I took her mom to a crepe place in Hollywood that was really good. There was a family sitting at another table, and one toddler kid was roaming around exploring the restaurant. His mother was keeping a close eye on him but letting him explore, and I found that I couldn't help but be concerned for the kid. All I could see were the various ways he could smack his head or something.

It made me wonder if when I eventually have kids I'll be that crazy constantly worrying parent instead of the silly and fun parent I always assumed I'd be someday.