Since 1990, Home Alone has been etched into my brain. I remember watching it in my childhood family room when I was seven. As Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin) outsmarted Harry and Marv, I felt powerful, as if I could do the same despite my age and size. Two years later, I sat in the movie theater as Kevin used his father?s credit card to pay his way through a luxurious time in Home Alone 2. Once again, I felt as if the world were mine to explore. They became my holiday movie staples, and now I watch them with my children.

There?s something magical about watching a movie I love with my children. Seeing them laugh at the same priceless scenes and respond to characters in ways I once did feels full circle. My kids have been watching Home Alone since they were three and six years old. What once was my childhood holiday tradition has become ours. Every year as the air becomes crisp and the first frost blankets the grass in white, we gather in our family room to watch the McCallister?s celebrate Christmas. No matter how many times we?ve seen Harry?s head ignited by a blowtorch or Marv tumble down the icy stairs, it?s never enough.
As a child, I saw myself in Kevin. Endlessly chasing a good time, he turned sticky situations into every kid?s dream. Years later, Culkin's character has had the same impact on my sons.
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