I was surprised at how bored the kids were with the Wizard of Oz.  It's a children's movie. They are the correct demographic for it. Music, singing, magic, witches, animal costumes, 100 little people...what's not to like? It had been a lot of years since I had seen it last, so I knew I'd enjoy it too. And I did. 

They didn't. I was annoyed at first that they didn't fit my fantasy of how kids should react to it. Perhaps my annoyance was my problem and not their fault. But still...

I told them the move was made more than 80 years ago. That's a long, long time, I said trying to impress on them that this was a piece of history. The older one asked "Are any of those people still alive?" The answer, of course, is no. The younger one asked "What about the little dog? Is it dead too?" Yes, it is.

Silence.

"Ohhhh, we're off to see the wizard! The wonderful wizard of ..."

"Can I play on the computer?"

Sigh.

They are who they are, living in the age they live in. Both of them were born into a different century than the rest of us. Bill Clinton and Benjamin Franklin are historical figures shrouded with dust and cobwebs.

The Wizard, Dorothy, the Scarecrow and Toto are playing out a story that was written when Queen Victoria (who?) was still alive. Two children from a CGI world full of Angry Birds and Ipads were being asked to pay attention to a story illustrated by painted cardboard and acted out by the ghosts of dead people. 

So I watched the movie and enjoyed it and they played a Sponge Bob video game and enjoyed it. They are both smarter than I am. They already know there's no place like home.