My kids are getting dangerously close to being teenagers. My son just turned 12 and my daughter is 9 going on 10 (going on what feels like 17). As they inch their way toward teenager-hood, I'm bracing for what's coming. We've seen glimpses of it here and there, but are waiting for the full brunt of the teenage years to hit us. Right now, both kids, Sebastian (my 12-year-old) and Sofia (my tween 9-year-old) inhabit this liminal space between being kids and being teenagers, well on their way to adulthood.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. My mom anxiety will do that! What I will be doing in order to approach this head-on is making Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2 a part of our family movie nights as soon as it comes out on June 14. A movie, you may be asking. Well, yes, I'm going to use it like I use some other age appropriate cultural and pop moments in order to reach my kids on a deeper level. As a first generation Latina in the U.S., connecting with my very Americanized kids doesn't come easy, that's why this method works for our family. Let me explain a little bit more.
1. Plain and simple: It's a Disney and Pixar movie
You can expect that any Disney and Pixar movie is going to be close to brilliant. Besides the other reasons why you'll want Inside Out 2 on your family's own movie night list this summer (more on those reasons in a bit), just the fact that this film is from the minds at Disney and Pixar guarantees that not only will it be family friendly, but both kids and adults alike will be into it. I want to continue the journey with Riley, from the first Inside Out, as she turns 13 and her core Emotions have to come to terms with the evolution that comes with being a teen. The actors that make the core Emotions so relatable are back: Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness (my fave), Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust. And now, there are new Emotions who are coming to make their place in Riley's brain; those are Maya Hawke as Anxiety, Ayo Edebiri as Envy, Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui, and Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment. We can't wait!
2. I'll be using it as a conversation starter
I've used this trick to my advantage many times with my kids. Growing up in a Latino household that was strictly evangelical, openness and normal conversations about feelings and other sticky subjects was … pretty hard. Sometimes I use kid appropriate TV shows to talk about friendships, navigating conflicts at school, balancing school with sports, and other issues that kids have to deal with. As their minds start to change, so too should my methods of talking to them. But Riley’s own new Emotions mirror the ones my kids will have to contend with as they mature. This is why I’ll take advantage to pose to my kids that some of the new Emotions that move into Riley’s brain in the movie are ones that may also be making their way into theirs, so at least they’ll be somewhat prepared when this happens.
3. The movie can honestly be a teaching tool as well
Just like I can use the movie as a conversation starter, I can also use Riley’s experiences as a teaching moment for my own kids. The writers of the movie consulted various psychologists and conducted a ton of in-depth research to understand how a teenager’s brain changes as they mature. The new Emotions in Riley’s brain—Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment—reflect actual feelings and transformations that teens have to go through as they grow up.
4. It comes out over Father's Day weekend, so it's a great excuse for a family outing to the movies!
Get the whole crew together for Father's Day, head to the movies to watch Inside Out 2, and make a fun evening out of the whole endeavor! This is honestly a perfect way to spend time en familia to celebrate dad. The family appropriate movie is one that everyone will enjoy, from the oldest to the youngest in your fam.
5. Because you'll be reminded of what it was like to be a teenager
Not that many of us will want to actually remember our tumultuous teen years, but there is a kind of innocence and beauty to being young that is worth tapping into as we age. As we become jaded by the world around us, connecting to that feeling of wonder and hope that used to be part of our teenage past can help us refocus on our present. It can also help us connect with the teens in our lives. Or in my case, with my two soon-to-be teens. And that alone is worth more than the price of a movie ticket admission!
Be sure to catch Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2, in theaters June 14!
