Moms Talk: A Holiday Watch List

Each week the Mentor Patch Moms Council answers a question on parenthood posed to them by readers or another member of council.

This week our question is: It's the holiday season. Hanukkah begins this Friday; Christmas is three weeks away; Kwanzaa starts the 26th (or, at least, so says Google.)

It may sound trite but one of my favorite parts of the season is breaking out holiday TV specials. My wife is a sucker for the 12 Days of Christmas. I'm a Muppet Family Christmas kind of guy.

What holiday specials do your families love? Peanuts? For Better or for Worse? Justice League?

Donna Milnes:

Our family always watches the children's classics: Rudolph, Frosty, Grinch and last year we added the Elf on the Shelf (which my grandchildren have at their houses).

I personally always watch National Lampoon’s Christmas and White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kay. The season just isn’t the same without popcorn and family gathered around the tree (oh, no, I mean the TV). Merry Christmas!

Melanie Majikas:

We are big fans of the movies Elf and Olive, the Other Reindeer. We also enjoy the Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol, Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

I enjoy watching It's a Wonderful Life every year as well.

Mary Jo Stack:

I will watch just about anything Christmas. I have been watching Christmas movies for the last two weeks.

Holiday specials have to include the Rankin/Bass programs, which I think all kids love. As a kid we always awaited the Perry Como and Andy Williams Christmas Specials. Then, of course, there was the odd-for-the-time pairing of Bing Crosby and David Bowie.

My kids love Jim Carrey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Elf.

My favorite cartoon special growing up was always Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. Thanks to fellow Patch Mom, Melanie Majikas, I now own the DVD. But I must watch White Christmas late at night by myself to make the holidays complete.

Devone Lansing:

I love White Christmas and Christmas Vacation and Elf.

My kids love Home Alone, A Christmas Story (known as "the you'll shoot your eye out one"), and Rudolph, The Grinch and The Little Drummer Boy.

Gloria Kilfoyle:

We all so enjoy The Christmas Story. Nice thinking about Cleveland in the "old days".

Kimberly Jones:

My all-time favorite christmas movie would have to be A Christmas Story. But I would have to say I love all the movies this time of year, love to sit with my kids and watch with a comfy blanket and popcorn.

Renee Ochaya

My kids’ favorite is Elf. We are all in hysterics every time we watch. We all enjoy the traditional cartoons such as Rudolph and Frosty.

The holidays are not complete for me without the Miracle on 34th Street. Though I haven’t introduced the kids to it yet, this may be the year.

Of course all holiday movies are better with some hot chocolate and fresh Christmas cookies.