I watched the new Steve Martin version of
Cheaper By the Dozen over the weekend and something about the movie just struck me. In the course of the film, Steve Martin's character of Tom Baker (not to be confused with the actor who placed the most popular incarnation of the Doctor on
Doctor Who) is offered his dream job. Only catch is--he's gotta move the entire family to the big city of Chicago.
After discussing the decision with his wife, they sit down and tell all eleven kids who are still at home about the decision. Of course, the kids are dead-set against it and vote not to go. Tom and his wife, Kate, overrule them, which leads to lots of sulking, protests and general bratty behavoir by the kids.
Which leads me to my question. As I've stated before, I was a military brat and so, for me, moving around every couple of years was just part of life. You just accepted the fact that you went where Dad got stationed and while you were sad to leave where you'd been, you also kind of looked forward to the new adventure of where you were going. It was never very traumatic for me. Which leads to me ask--is moving really so traumatic for kids?
I had a roommate in college who had lived his entire life to that point in one small town. As a military brat, I couldn't really imagine living my life in just one place, going to only one school, knowing all the same people growing up. I feel fortunate to have moved about. I've met a wide variety of good friends, I've seen a lot of our great country and I've seen and experienced things some people might not get to necessarily do in a lifetime.
So maybe that's why it bugs me to see movies or TV shows where moving is presented as the most horrible thing ever. I keep wanting to say--get over it and look at the good side. Because just like all of life there's good and bad associated with moving.
On a related note, Ashton Kutcher has an appearance in the movie as the actor/boyfriend of the oldest Baker girl. At one point, Kutcher's character says something like, "I am cast for being good looking, not because I can act." Anyone else thing art is imitating life just a wee-bit here?
posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/15/2004 11:25:00 AM |
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