In November of 2013, when the movie Frozen hit theaters, I was totally an amateur mom. In fact, we didn’t even see it and opted for a dinosaur movie with PMan because we thought he would enjoy that better. At the time, he was three and obsessed with everything prehistoric. Plus, who knew Frozen would be the next epic Disney film?!
 
Now years later, I’m not a total amateur anymore. Survival has taught me a few things, like the need to always have tissue at the ready, the fact that small boys CANNOT see a puddle without jumping in with both feet, and that despite the fear that your children will be the first ever to graduate from college in a diaper, they do eventually potty train. Survival has also taught me to find affordable, educational entertainment for my boys.
 
Recently, we watched Frozen at the main library’s summer movie showing. Little Bud is in love with Elsa, so we just had to see that blonde hair on the big screen. If you haven’t attended one of these library movie nights, make plans to attend future showings. Thanks to some unknown cosmic force or intergalactic interference, we actually arrived 15 minutes BEFORE show time. We were blown away by the large crowd. There were people everywhere, with bag chairs, take out and blankets. It looked like we were at a festival, only it was at the library. After staking out our spot and getting out the sandwiches and snacks we had packed, I was on a high. I was prepared and ready and we had everything. The only thing I forgot was bug spray, but the bugs didn’t dare put a sting in our moment. I felt like a mom who knew a thing or two about being a mom. Move over, Elsa. Score one for me!  And yes, it did feel like the first time in forever that everything was humming along so nicely. I had to stop for a moment to celebrate and congratulate myself on our success.
 
I also congratulate and thank the library for organizing such a special evening. As I sat there in my moment of motherly bliss, I looked around me. I saw a big, muscular dad there with a pint-sized girl proudly dressed in her Elsa best. They were apparently having a father/daughter date. I saw families with small children, happily sprawled out on blankets, chatting and talking with families they had just met. There were grandparents with grandkids. There was even an actress dressed like Anna! People from all walks of life and all Baton Rouge zip codes simply enjoyed a summer evening together. We were a community.
 
Looking back to 2013, I’m not disappointed that we didn’t see Frozen in a movie theater that year. I’m not even disappointed that I likely forgot the tissues and didn’t pack any snacks. Even though we’ve now seen Frozen enough times to know exactly when that mean snowman is going to appear, there was something special about this moment together with family and community.  It’s a memory I don’t want to let go of anytime soon.