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When You Want to Throw Popcorn at the Screen

Have you seen a movie with your kids that has raised adoption issues? Adoptive parent Pam Hawkins says, “I have been surprised at the number of films and TV shows that refer to adoption or raise adoption issues in some way. Movie and TV moments happen when you least expect them. I have found it is increasingly important for me to do more research on movies before I take my kids.”

Pam recommends a guide from Adoptive Families magazine that has tips “to get through the movie moments that make you want to throw popcorn at the screen.” These tips were put together by Susan Avery who is an adoptive mother, the Kids Editor at New York Magazine and a freelancer for The New York Times.

The tips include:

1. Let your child react. Even if you’re in the movie theatre, don’t shush your child if he reacts. In fact, during Country Bears, Susan’s daughter promptly agreed when asked if she wanted to walk out after a nasty remark about adoption.
2. After the film, address the issue. Susan suggested to her daughter that they write to Disney to tell them what they got wrong.
3. Give a heads-up. Let other adoptive parents know when you've seen something even mildly offensive. Letters and emails to TV networks can make a difference in future programming, and sometimes even get an episode pulled.
4. What if she doesn't react? Susan says if a remark doesn’t bother your child, leave it alone. But if you think she’s suppressing something, you might ask, "By the way, I wondered what you thought about that scene in...?"