Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

Dear Maddisen, Griffyn and Jaden:

What a great time I had watching Diary Of A Wimpy Kid with you three! While I've never kept a diary, I've sure felt wimpy during several stages of my life. I'm betting you have too, or that you will.

Soon.

It's part of the human condition, and it happens to everyone. Trust me. And while you can't escape it, you can prepare for how you'll react to it. You can learn the skills now that will get you through those periods of insecurity.

Lesson #1: Although it's important to express your individuality, it's best that you never show your "secret freckle" to anyone. Just sayin'.

Although Greg Heffley is the lead character in Diary, he's not really the guy to serve as a role model for how best to get through the battlefield called Middle School. Nope, Greg is selfish, and uses people to further his own ambition. He's the guy you want to avoid in Middle School; the guy you don't want to become as an adult. He's always looking for the next back to step on, the next spotlight he can step into. Even when he figures it all out in the end, you sorta guess his epiphany will be short lived. He'll embrace the dark side of adolescence again, just you wait and see.

Rowley, on the other hand, is the guy to whom you wanna pay attention. Greg's second banana is genuine, sincerely interested in others and secure in how he sees the world. It doesn't matter to Rowley that he's a side-kick; he's more interested in the experience he's having, and the relationships he's forming. His ambitions are focused more on making each day fun and interesting, for himself and for those he loves.

Yep, Rowley understands the secret that most middle-school age kids don't: Life's about the moment, and the happiness that comes with knowing who you are in that moment.

I'm gonna buy this movie for ya, kids, because I want you to watch it over and over again. Enjoy it for the entertainment value, but appreciate it for the life lesson it gives, too. It's a powerful lesson.

By the way: Jaden has the Cheese Touch!!!!

Dad

6 comments:

Stanton said...

Awww, how sweet are you?

Spike Nesmith said...

re: lesson #1 - but it has a ♫haaaiiirr in iiiiiit!♫

The Film Geek said...

Hey Stanton: My kids would say not much! :) But I'd say pretty damn much.

Hiya Spike: No! Even with a haaaiiirr in iiiiit. Man, I loved that kid in the movie.

Read Me said...

After I watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I said aloud, "There were no disappointing parts in this movie. It was all good." I don't say that very much.

The Film Geek said...

My kids and I agree, Read Me. It was a real pleasure to watch.

Anonymous said...

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