Saturday, during record cold temperatures here in the South, we thought it better to find indoor activities instead of the yardwork and gardening we had planned. So the kids wanted to go to the movies. And the one everyone wanted to see was “Meet the Robinsons”. Yikes! After reading the various reviews both here on adoptionblogs and on listserves and other adoption sites everywhere, I was a bit nervous about whether this movie was for us, or not.

But the children pleaded and even Super Dad declared that it was “a Disney movie, so how bad could it be?” (I reminded him of our own childhood reactions to Bambi!) Still the majority prevailed, and it was off to “Meet The Robinsons” we went.

I decided it was best to prepare LuLu for what I knew about the movie, especially given the crying jags we experienced during Charlotte’s Web the last time she and I went to the theatre. I explained that the plot was about an orphan whose mother left him at the orphanage and who didn’t get adoptive parents for a long time. I added that he was very interested in science and designed an invention to help him go back and find his birth mom.

LuLu’s wheels began to turn. “Sounds interesting,” she said. “He’s the hero of the story, you know,” I added, “and you know in Disney movies the hero always lives happily ever after.” (I felt safe telling her that, and hopeful it would help detour any intense emotions.)

LuLu was glued to the movie and she LOVED it! The fact that the main character is a science geek resonated with her (she loves science). “HE’S JUST LIKE ME!” she declared repeatedly.

I was glad we saw the movie. LuLu internalized the hero’s motto “Keep Moving Forward” quickly and explained that she was going to try to keep moving forward in her own life and not worry about the past. This will be a major hurdle for her, but how nice to have a role model to follow.

Then it hit me: My adopted Chinese daughter who looks nothing like this blonde boy with spiky hair related to this character in a deeper way than she ever related to another character! Yes, Mulan is Chinese and (as LuLu pointed out), Simba loses his father – but Lewis was JUST LIKE HER! I have to admit that I was blown away. I so expected some negative fall out and instead got just the opposite. She found great comfort and joy in seeing a child with the same abandoned beginnings become a successful person with a happy life at the end.

And I did too…not a bad message of hope for an Easter weekend!

Keep Moving Forward!

Check out more reviews from adoptive families:

Movie: Disney's Meet the Robinsons

Movie review- Meet the Robinsons

Russian Adoptees "Meet The Robinsons"

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