Practically perfect in every way

We’ve been watching a lot of Mary Poppins around here lately. Like, pretty much every day. And I’m starting to notice that the story is having some serious impact on my parenting.

Photo: Mama and Lucy watching Mary Poppins less than two weeks before Rosie’s birth.

If you are going to choose a movie to influence you in the realm of parenthood, Mary Poppins is not a bad one, so I’m not really complaining. Here are a few of the gems the magical nanny has imparted to us through repeated viewings and the ensuing involuntary meditation that comes in the wee hours:

“Item 1: A cheery disposition”

I appreciate Mary’s positive outlook on life. She is “never cross” — what’s not to like about that? And she has some advice for the rest of us: “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and — snap! the job’s a game!”

Now, I think it would be much easier to enjoy tidying up the nursery if it really could be done with a snap of one’s fingers, but even so, Mary has a point. Lately, when I find myself overwhelmed by all the competing household and childrearing needs around me, I notice that I begin humming “A Spoonful of Sugar” and then I just plunge in, one step at a time. I think things might be even easier if I had the time to put on fabulous false eyelashes like Mary’s got.

“Item 2: Rosy cheeks — obviously”: good manners

I’ve always valued politeness, so this isn’t a big leap for me. But Mary gives extra encouragement in this area, providing us with an example that both Lucy and I can appreciate. I’ve found that teaching Lucy to say “yes, please” and “no, thank you” makes responding to loud toddler demands much more pleasant. Even ridiculous requests sound a bit better when oiled with respectful words. “Lucy, please stop trying to gag yourself with your entire hand.” “Thank you for offering me your used tissue.” “Close your mouth, please, Michael; we are not a codfish.”

“Item 3: Play games, all sorts”: appreciating each day

Probably the most valued insight I’ve gained from Mary Poppins is the reminder to cherish each day with my girls. This is something that young mothers hear often, but it is still not always easy to remember. I especially love Bert’s speech-song to Mr. Banks after the chimneysweeps have departed, as he paints a long-view picture of the father’s life:

You’ve got to grind, grind, grind at that grindstone,
Though childhood slips like sand through a sieve.
And all too soon they’ve up and grown,
And then they’ve flown,
And it’s too late for you to give
Just that spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down….

Somehow, attaching this maxim to the story of Jane and Michael helps it to sink in better than when I hear, “They grow up so quickly!” from a stranger on the street. I do really value soaking up all these baby-moments as much as possible. And for the most part, I do — but it still helps to have a reminder. Taking the long view helps me to just relax and enjoy Rosie’s snuggles when she is hungry non-stop in the evenings, or to laugh along with Lucy when she smears cream cheese all over her face and declares it to be “fun-ny!” I know these days are more fleeting than they sometimes feel, so now is the time to enjoy them.

So, hip-hip-hooray for good old Mary Poppins! There are unplumbed depths in this gem of a film. Five stars, without a doubt — and the music is so good that it doesn’t even annoy me when it gets stuck in my head!

As Bert says, “no wonder that it’s Mary that we love! …Cream of the crop, tip of the top is Mary Poppins, and there we stop.”