We like going to see movies and have been taking our 12-year-old twins and 7-year-old son to the movie theater since they were three.  Recently, I figured that the new Toy Story 3 movie would be the perfect movie to take all four of my boys to see (including my youngest son who is turning three in August) as this was his very first time going with us!  So with his car seat in tow (yes, I actually bring in his car seat---always bring it with you, strap ‘em in and feed ‘em snacks and you will be surprised how magical this can be for everyone!) and with all four boys by my side, we ventured to the box office to purchase our tickets to the show.

I can remember when you could take your kids to a movie and did not have to pay extra to purchase the fancy 3D glasses for the latest movie made in 3D and I’m beginning to wonder if every movie made now is made in 3D. I could have sworn I saw a preview for the next installment of Sandra Bullock’s The Proposal made in 3D but wasn’t quite sure since my 3D glasses didn’t actually fit right over my ‘real’ glasses and things were a little blurry and the glasses kept slipping and moving around. 

As we sat and watched the previews I started thinking about what it would be like if we saw everything in life from the perspective behind these 3D glasses?   Would it make our lives more enjoyable and fun with all of these amazing affects?   Would these glasses somehow magically make things more colorful and exciting?  Would changing diapers, spending sleepless nights nursing infants, wiping up cereal off the kitchen wall, paying bills and other day-to-day activities be a much more spectacular experience because you’re seeing everything in 3D? Would they turn our ordinary lives into extraordinary ones? 

Or, if you’re like me, after wearing those glasses for a while, would your ears start to ache and would you start getting a little dizzy from all of that movement?  Would your eyes begin to tire and strain from all the stimulation and would you long for the days when you could see everything simply and clearly without special affects?

If life was seen through 3D glasses we may not be able to see the subtle things about each of our kids that make them who they are.  As parents of twins, we especially need to make sure we see each child as an individual and seek out the things that each are passionate about even if they are completely different from one another and to make sure we are really looking at everything from all possible sides, not just in 3D.  We need to be able to look at each situation with our children with clarity so we can help them grow and learn.  Teaching them that even though they may see things one way, there is always someone else that sees things differently, and that’s okay. 

The Pixar folks have done it again and have created another fantastic movie.  And as we were half-way through Toy Story 3 I glanced over at my youngest son through my 3D glasses and saw him peacefully asleep with his 3D glasses slumping off his cheeks.  Then, I smiled and removed his glasses and was amazed at the thought of how fast he has grown and how time has flown by dreaming about the next time we can spend together at the movies (but next time a movie that is not 3D!)