Jude and I snuggle up on the couch, we pop in The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, and with the narrator's first words I am taken back to when I was a little girl. Motherhood is filled with these moments: a surreal combination of nostalgia and vicarious living. It is as if you are looking backward and forward at the same time. It's actually one of my favorite parts of being a mother, the chance to experience childhood joys through the eyes of my little one. Because, like the end of this sweet, classic movie points out, those magical moments of childhood always exist in our memories.
Winnie the Pooh is, at its heart, is a story about the power of friendships, both real and imaginary. It is through our first friendships that we define ourselves. We learn about sharing, empathy, helping, and loyalty. And often at a young age we create imaginary worlds, not unlike the world of the Hundred Acre Wood, where we can try on different personalities for size. I personally remember a stint as a fairly bossy princess, while Jude and his imaginary friend are on a constant quest to rescue those in distress.
As we expand our circle beyond the confines of our family, we are exposed to so many different viewpoints, ideas, and adventures. We all had a friend like Tigger who enticed us to try something new, even if we got into a spot of trouble, and as a cautious child, having a courageous friend was good for me. I can still remember riding my bike much too far to get candy in town--it was both exciting and empowering, even if it was a little naughty.
It is with this same nostalgia that I watch Jude form his first friendships. Not unlike Christopher Robin, he has created friendships within his imagination, finding comfort and adventure with his imaginary friend and many stuffed animals. And now, with his starting preschool, he has forged close bonds with his classmates. I love when I pick him up from school and see him practicing kindness or sharing a joke. He has always been a slightly serious little one, and I feel friendship has really helped his sense of humor blossom. In fact, that was his favorite part of this movie, the funny parts, of which there are many.
I know that most of these first friends often end up on very different paths, just as I am no longer in touch with mine. But they leave a mark on our hearts that lasts a lifetime, and in that way, they are friends forever.
Experience the friendships, imagination and adventure of the Hundred Acre Woods in this timeless movie. For the first time it will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack and HD Digital on August 27th. To learn more about the re-release and watch some movie clips you can visit their website or follow Winnie the Pooh on Facebook.
Now, to enter for a chance to win a $50 Visa Gift Card and a Winnie The Pooh Blu-ray Combo Pack, share with us the importance of friendship, imagination and adventure in your child's life...
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