Interesting how so many of us see movies differently. Inside Out is not a favorite of mine but I did like it. I didn't take it as a film that was made for education on mental disorders. I remember seeing an interview with Pete Docter and he said it was based on his daughter and how she was changing from little kid to a teen. I saw it just as a film that highlighted the changes kids go through during puberty and all the confusion during puberty. I also saw it as the way kids stop just being kids and start losing their childhood as they transform into adults. That is what made me cry during it. I can get sad thinking of my kids leaving the nest. When your kids are babies, and you are living it, you feel like babyhood and the sleepless nights, and the days of making sure there is nothing tiny on the floor will last forever and then boom they are a few years from college.
And the reasons why you liked Inside Out is the very reasons I hated it. While many parents could relate, me not so much. We like our kids are all wired differently emotionally including Pete with his own daughter, he obviously found his coping mechanism, writing and ultimately a film based on all that.
Me I raised two kids, both were daycare children in their youngest years, later and still I started my own business so I'd be around for vacations, days off school, if they were ill, all those things that plague parents that hold careers outside the home. My kids were 5 years apart, while I loved them I wasn't into that infant not sleeping or me, reasons why my kids are 5 years apart. But I made the most of the time of the waking hours of my kids when they were home. They were involved in a lot and so was I with them. But I never really wrestled with letting go nor did it make me sad, more happy for them 'cause it wasn't about me. I knew it was my job to raise little humans into responsible, well educated adults. I skipped home from dropping them at their first day of Kindergarten and was so excited for them to have the time of their life in college. I felt the same way when my son went off to Florida for the CP and then returned when he graduated college.
My kids and I have always had a good relationship, DD and I have always been joined at the hip, that did not change while she was away at college or when she launched her career. It to me wasn't the volume of time I spent with them but what we did with the time we were together. Though I have to say the first good-bye at college with my DD was rough, I had to pull it together, keep it together as I had a 4 hour drive up 57 and 80 to get back home. It took me a good 30 minutes driving before I didn't feel like I was going to burst into tears, more stress-tension vs sadness though as I was excited 'cause she was excited. She now like my son had, is looking for a different position in another state. I'm good with that. I never dwelled on how their leaving would impact me more how their school days, college days and launching careers would impact their life, help them grow into amazing young people. I put a great deal of effort into guiding them, teaching them to make good choices everyday with their peers and staff. I did my job well, reached my goal of raising productive members of society and I guess that is the core of what made me tick as a parent.
I can appreciate Pete's way of looking at his daughter, his need to write about it but me, I just found the whole film obnoxiously stereo typed. But like music and other things in life we are all so different, what speaks to someone doesn't speak to another but I was the New Mom that pitched every book I was given on pregnancy and child raising, tossed them in the garbage.
I'll bring my beach music close my eyes and dream of TL
Blood pressure not so good though. 
But, in my defense, I did have to wait 10 mts. to check in so I was late seeing the dtr. And I have bloody white coat syndrome! Anyhow, really got to watch that sodium this week. Going back for follow-up in 6 months. 
