Our love of a dragon and a Viking continues

One of the many joys of having the boys is being able to revisit the films I loved watching when I was their size. So many animated films, Disney featuring frequently obviously - they had no competition in the 80s it seems, but also the musicals and Christmas classics that were already well loved and established before my time. 

But the added joy is discovering new films together. Yes there is a lot of rubbish out there, not all that is animated is gold, but every now and then we hit upon a real gem. A film that not only they love but we love too. Ones I may even find myself guilty of watching when they’ve gone to bed. And the really great films, the test of true quality, are the ones that spin off into equally good TV shows. How to Train Your Dragon is pure brilliance to my family. Both films have been loved equally by the boys and the TV series extending from them is one of the few things on tv that they love equally, that doesn’t turn them into crazies and, best of all, doesn’t incite any violence or fighting. 

When we found out they were making a third film we all shouted for joy. We counted down to its realise, buying tickets for the first showing at the local theatre.

The film did not disappoint but boy did it take us on an emotional rollercoaster! We laughed, we cheered, we cried. All of us. Whilst us big ones found our eyes welling up, the boys snuggled in tight and Smalley literally sobbed out loud, shuddering and gulping on my lap. 

They didn’t shy from big life lessons and they tackled them masterfully. And despite the episode of sobs, we left with our spirits lifted all feeling a bit more grown up...Thank goodness!! The adventures of Toothless and Hiccup are what keeps harmony in our house. (And yes. I do get the irony that Vikings are bringers of peace to our family.) 

Since the film our Dragons obsession has only grown. Indeed the outside observer may suggest unhealthily so! 

The house has dragons in almost every room and I’m not just talking toys. Smalley becomes Toothless at every opportunity and he is so unbelievably cute as such my heart breaks every time I see him charging about. Seeing as Toothless is essentially a cheeky toddler, Smalley plays the role perfectly! 

Second child guilt

Smalley has a birthday party coming up. I’m going to completely gloss over the fact that he’s turning 4 as I’m neither emotionally nor mentally capable of processing such. The reality that this coming birthday marks not only such a departure from the time my baby was a baby but also firmly establishes him as being beyond even the most generous definitions of toddler hood is simply too much. <sob>

So, as I say glossing over the sadness that time flies, I’m dwelling instead on parent guilt. 

I think back to when Albs was smaller. To the hours I committed to looking up activities and prepping party games. Birthdays were planned months in advance; venues booked and invitation a hand made and delivered at least 6 weeks before the date in hope of securing a good enough crowd to make the effort worthwhile! 

And then the second child finds himself with another birthday looming and the second child guilt starts creeping in.

With just over 3 weeks to go - and minimal research a hall has been booked and a bouncy castle hired. We’ve clobbered together a guest list and have fingers crossed 4 year old social lives have eased up a bit since Albs was that small; his life booked up months in advance!

The ultimate mum guilt came by way of the invitations. I did handmade invites for all but Albs’ most recent party - when my feminist ways opted instead for shiny pink invites. Making a sleep deprived decision that my love is best shown through my cutting and pasting skills, How to train your dragon stickers were hastily purchased, the craft box raided, the home printer pulled off the shelf and 24 hours later the Toothless invites were handed out at school.  

Sticking together invitations until 1am has proven efficient in staving on the mum guilt for now. With the party weeks away and a full schedule between now and then, I anticipate it creeping back in a great deal more over the coming weeks..