A few of my favourite things

"Mum," said Miss Missy, "I've never eaten a croissant. They look delicious, I'd like to try one."

The Sweet Life in ParisI was shocked because, 1: she never asks to try new food, and 2: I love sharing my favourite things with my kids, so how could it be that in all her 12 years of existence, I had never suggested she try a croissant??

Sharing my favourite is one of the best things about being a parent. I love making pancakes for them on Saturday mornings (no lemon juice for Miss Missy, the gastronomic neophobe). The Young Lad and I love building Lego together.  I loved listening to him when, at age 3, he recited The Very Hungry Caterpillar , opens a new windowas he turned the pages of my very own book.

I love watching Project Runway, opens a new window and Star Trek, opens a new window with Miss Missy. Together, she and I have read our way through The Ordinary Princess, opens a new windowMilly Molly Mandy, opens a new window, and the Little House books, opens a new window. Now that she is too grown up to want to be read to by Mum, I've started suggesting old favourites, like the Jinny at Finmory, opens a new window series (which she loved) and Anne of Green Gables, opens a new window (which she didn't!!*).

Cover of Children's Book of CinemaWhen I saw that the library has Bugsy Malone, opens a new window on DVD, I just had to bring it home to watch with her. I was in a production of Bugsy when I was at high school, and loved the movie (perhaps partly because it stars Scott Baio). Miss Missy wasn't too keen at first, but once I finally persuaded her to give it a try, she loved it. The same thing happened with My Fair Lady, opens a new window (I had a bit part in that too). In fact, she enjoyed that so much that she didn't want to have to go to bed, and couldn't wait to watch the other half the next night.

And so began our Mum and Daughter Movie Nights, complete with a yummy treat -- and yes, croissants have featured on the treat menu! We very quickly (ok, instantly) ran out of high-school-productions-Mum-was-in-that-are-also-movies, and so we branched out to old favourites of mine like Back to the Future, and classics like The Sound of Music and National Velvet.

But now I'm starting to run out of ideas .  So, I'd love to know what your favourite (pre-teen appropriate) movies are? Or if you'd like some ideas of great movies to watch with the young'uns, you could check out my Movie Night List.

*I know!  I couldn't believe it either!

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