We’ve been on a big Disney movie kick and have been watching some of the classics that we haven’t yet seen and revisiting old favorites, and up this week is Dumbo! There are numerous life lessons learned in Dumbo. The movie is short, with a running time of just over an hour, but it packs a big emotional and philosophical punch into that short time period.
* When it comes to friends, quality matters far more than quantity.
Timothy the Mouse is Dumbo’s only friend and he is loyalty and devotion personified. Dumbo didn’t need a ton of friends, he needed just one really, really good friend. Quality over quantity, right? Sometimes one is enough.
* Nothing compares to a mother’s love
You want to make me cry? Play Baby Mine from Dumbo. And if you wanted to see the ugly cry, you should have been at my daughter’s dance recital a few years ago when she danced to that. And my mom came to watch. It was really special to be sitting next to my mom, who loves me so well and so much, and to be watching a daughter who is the light of my life was pretty fabulous. Also, it was really emotional.
* Our differences are what make us special.
Dumbo is mocked and ridiculed because of his big ears, which are unlike any other elephant’s ears. In the end, though, Dumbo’s ears are his greatest asset because they make him unique. What makes you different is what makes you special. We should celebrate unique features, not shame them. Which leads me to my next point.
* Adults can be mean, too.
I know, that one’s a downer. We focus on kids and kindness, and most anti-bullying initiatives target children, but I think we all know adults who engage in less than kind behavior, too. In Dumbo, the other adult female elephants are cruel to Dumbo in both words and behavior. It’s heartbreaking to think that grown-ups would treat a little one that way.
Dumbo is a good reminder that adult behavior matters, and matters a lot.
* Just when you think you have things figured out, they take an unexpected turn.
There’s a weird part of the film where Timothy and Dumbo unknowingly drink alcohol, become intoxicate and hallucinate “Pink Elephants on Parade.” The scene is weird. Common Sense Media describes it as “alternately trippy, creepy, and cute.” Sometimes it is best to just go with it and embrace the weirdness. As in Dumbo, life eventually returns to something to a bit more recognizable and normal, whatever that may mean.
Are you a fan of Dumbo? What takeaways would you add to this list?
You May Also Like: Our ride on Dumbo at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration #DisneySMMC
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