[JosieWales]

I'd never seen it till yesterday, and I was thinking, in the beginning, "Oh, look, it's an adoption story! How cool!"

THEN Stuart's "real" parents (mice who were posing as parents and were not his birthparents) show up and TAKE HIM AWAY FROM HIS ADOPTIVE FAMILY!! I (internally) flipped out! Owen's almost 3, and even thought I doubt he caught it, I'm squirreling that movie away till he's old enough to understand that he will NOT be taken away from us! We talk about how he's adopted often, and about his bmom and foster mom. Stuart is so sad when he leaves his adoptive family--I do NOT want Owen thinking that could happen to him!!!!

[mommyto2guatboys]

Yes, Stuart little I think sends a bad message. I work in adoption and that is one movie that we use as an example of kids movies to be aware of.

Magen
My family!

[wvamom]

I forgot how it ended-I did recall thinking it was a bit of an odd movie. Thanks for the heads-up.

[dianneemily]

We rented Stuart Little once and watched it. Made me a bit nervous of what message the girls were getting from it, too.
They watch Annie and it also has a similar storyline of people posing as "real parents" to get money.
I'm not sure what I think. I believe that the girls have a baseline understanding that things that happen in movies don't really happen in real life. They often voice "that only happens in movies". However I can't always be sure what message they are receiving. If you are uncomfortable with it, then I agree with you about putting it away. I doubt the one time viewing will really sink in for Owen.
I think I read the classic children's book, Stuart Little, but can't remember if the same thing happens in the book.
Always unnerving when "family movie night" turns into "oops, what was THAT!"

[Pipercub]

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I read it for the first time in third grade and many times since.

That said, it is not my favorite movie.

[MamaS]

That did NOT happen in the book I read. Hollywood rewrote it for -- more excitement, I guess.

[LaRonda]

Depending on the situation and age of the child many of these films can be cathartic for kids and spur questions, some can even be empowering, depends on how you use the experience and if your child is ready.
I personally don't like adoption stories/adoption books that involve animals, but you will notice that there are alot of movies geared toward kids that are "orphan" related, aside from the two mentioned of "Stuart Little" and "Annie", there is the bevy of "Shirley Temple" movies, "Heidi", "Harry Potter" films, "Escape to Witch Mountain", "Matilda" (she leaves super mean parents and whips out adoption papers and is adopted by her loving teacher) and more. Some movies just are not suitable for younger kids, but as your child ages, not only your child will see these films but your child's friends will see them and they will think that your child is like all orphans in movies and lived in a mean dirty orphanage and their bioparents (they will use the term "real") did not want them and no one loved them.

[Slatond10]

Funny, I put the movie in a couple of years ago when DD was 2 or 3 thinking it would be cute 4 her to watch. Luckily it didn't hold her attention and upon rewatching w/ a AP perspective... I didn't care for the story. It has been put in the bottom cabinet.

I had thought it was cute when I had watched b4 I was an AP... funny how our perspective changes.

[sheababy]

Was the book the same? I am adopted as is DD and I remember reading and loving the book as a child but don't remember any adoption storyline like in the movie.

I don't often get offended, stories are just stories but I turned this movie off.

[JosieWales]

I remember loving the book as a kid, too, and I don't remember the whole fake-"real" parents thing. I need to go re-read it.

[crick]

Just a different perspective from a parent with older kids.

My kids enjoyed this movie and also enjoyed Annie, Harry Potter and even like the Lemony Snicket books/movie.

I think as parents we are so diligent about making sure adoption is positive in our kids' lives and making sure we find true reflections that we forget that sometimes a book is just a book. A movie is just a movie. There are often other messages in these things that kids latch onto and the adoption theme isn't necessarily first and foremost like it can be for parents.

I'm not saying "it doesn't matter or won't effect", and we do want to be aware of things to educate, but to me that is with any topic or theme.

[JosieWales]

Originally Posted by crick

I think as parents we are so diligent about making sure adoption is positive in our kids' lives and making sure we find true reflections that we forget that sometimes a book is just a book. A movie is just a movie. There are often other messages in these things that kids latch onto and the adoption theme isn't necessarily first and foremost like it can be for parents.

I'm not saying "it doesn't matter or won't effect", and we do want to be aware of things to educate, but to me that is with any topic or theme.

I agree that once Owen is older and knows a book is a book, a movie is a movie, it may well be different! But right now, as he's learning about what adoption means and about his bparents, etc., I don't want to confuse him about where he stands in our family. But I do agree, as he gets older, it ought to be easier to watch movies like that!