I was horrified to wake up this morning to the news about the Dark Knight Rises shooting in Denver. I grew up in Aurora and used to get my Hello Kitty fix at that same mall. But the most heartbreaking part of this story, to me, is that there were children at that theater.
Among the reports was this shocking detail: The youngest person injured was a 4-month-old baby. OMG! Thankfully it turns out that may have been a FALSE report. I'm hearing that the baby was not injured, just taken to the hospital, treated, and released.
Meanwhile someone on my Facebook stream said she was baffled as to why there would be a 4-month-old at a midnight movie. Are we really doing that already -- judging the parents who brought that baby?
It's not what I ever did, but it's pretty common. Parents sometimes bring their babies to the movies. If you happen to have a heavy sleeper (and your baby would have to be a really heavy sleeper to make it through a loud action movie like Dark Knight), it just makes sense to bring the baby with you and let her sleep rather than paying for a sitter. Hopefully if the baby wakes, you're considerate of the other audience members and you step outside the theater. But anyway, most 4-month-old babies are not exactly on the kind of bedtime schedule school-aged kids get on. Who cares what time they're up?
More from The Stir: Shooting at 'Dark Knight Rises' Midnight Premiere Kills At Least a Dozen People (VIDEO)
But worse than that, this is just an incredibly insensitive time to be wagging disapproving fingers at the parents of children who were in that theater. Apparently there were other kids there. And so what? When a parent weighs the risk of taking their kids to a midnight movie, they're not considering the possibility that there might be a shooter there! It's summer. School is not in session.
Parents of kids who were in the theater last night need our support and compassion right now. Not our judgment.
**Update on baby** Jamie Rohrs describes how he felt holding his baby, Ethan, as James Holmes opened fire on the audience.
Have you ever taken a baby to the movies late at night?
Image via Elizabeth/Table45/Flickr
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Comments 458
4 month old children don't have bedtimes - My son came to watch a few movies with us when he was a lil guy - who was going to watch him?? movie theaters cost an arm and a leg to go to nowadays and throw on the charge of a babysitter + the gas to get them to the baby sitter could = up to a really expensive movie date... I dont think we ever saw a midnight movie (i hate being stuffed like a sausage in a smelly movie theater - but we saw late ones with him... he slept the whole time in his lil infant carrier... most people didnt even realize he was there. lol. since having my son we dont get out much so i remember every movie seen.... Inception, Twighlight (the wedding one) The other guys, and most recently The Avengers (he WANTED to see that movie but fell asleep. lol)
This is a Horrible event - there's a lot of SICK people out there...
We Live in Colorado Springs... my husband wanted to take the kids to do something non-stressful and fun tonight, after all this fire stress...they've seen the other Batman's and have been DROOLING and jumping and freaking out over this one... I'm terrified to send my boys. I don't think I will. My husband is retired Army sgt and infantryman, who is trained for combat emergencies/first aide. My brother is 7 feet tall a little over 200 lbs and very capable of beating the living hell out of a gunner.
That being said, my kids are staying home. However, had it not been for this incident, they would probably go. At ages 6 and 4. Like the article, it's summer, it's only one night... I have no problems with that.
Why would you take a baby to a midnight movie? Especially one that is for an older crowd. It's not only questionable parenting but also shows how inconsiderate someone is of the other viewers. Do you think I stood in line and paid good money to hear your kid scream it's head off in the theater and watch your ass stumble out of the aisle? Yes this was an upsetting thing that happened but if we're talking about the fact that an infant was there, I agree with everyone saying why in the hell did you bring the child there in the first place? Common sense people.
Nope I don't agree with you the baby should have be safely ( or safer) at home in his/her bed. I'm not saying this shooting was the parents fault but I am saying the child shouldn't be out at night when these kinds of things happen more often. My children never even knew it got dark until they were over 3. lol They rode down the road once somewhere and said "Mom, why do those store light up" lol Because I protect and provide for my children before I give to myself. I would rather my children get a good schedule and more and better sleep than me see a movie. I think my children are the most important. What I do now for/ to/ and about them will teach and coach and guide them to be what they will be as adult and I think me staying home at night is well worth that...
Very true. Was engaged in a twitter discussion about this very thing.
I know plenty of parents that would bring their sleeping infants out at midnight to go to a movie or to go food shopping. Some infants sleep better when they are out. Passing judgement on these parents is STUPID!!!!!!! This was a tragedy and placing any blame on parents for haing their baby out to see a movie at that age when there is clearly someone else to blame for the actions of that night is heartless and cruel!!!!!!!