Twilight moms: when normal mothers go crazy for a movie

November 14, 10:07 PMSeattle Eastside Family ExaminersMichele & Lexie

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Next Friday night, I recommend you avoid your local movie theater. With the opening of the movie Twilight, I can guarantee you, theaters will be filled with fans desperate to see this teen vampire love story.  Crazy fans.  Screaming, crying, fainting, fans.  The kinds of fans you see in old Beatles videos.  Oh, and their moms.  Lots of moms.

I will admit I am a mom.  I will also admit that I have read the books.  When another mom-friend insisted I read the books so I could talk to her about these vampires and the humans that love them, I warned her that I probably wouldn't like it, but I promised to try.  And I started reading the book.  Then I became obsessed with it.

It was pathetic, really.  It isn't anything exceptional as far as literature goes, although it was cool that it takes place in Washington state.  But there is something about it that is catching girls... and full grown women... and holding onto them.  I am not sure exactly what it is.  The characters can sometimes be a bit annoying, it obviously isn't realistic, and there aren't any particularly fantastic love scenes (*ahem*, which isn't why I read books, of course, I mean, I read books for other things, like... um, love scenes?). 

But something is pulling in all these "Twilight Moms".  There are at least two major websites dedicated to these obsessed mothers.  The sites are filled with lust-filled comments about the teen and 20-something actors in the upcoming movie.  The moms have already purchased tickets to the August 2009 Twilight Convention in Dallas.   They have taken tours of Forks, WA, the tiny rain-soaked, logging town that is the setting for the series of books.  There is even a story about one trying to buy a Forks High School cheerleader outfit, from the cheerleader, while she was still wearing it.  Heck, if you want to meet with other Twilight Moms on the Eastside, there is even a group from our area planning a big private showing, with contests and dinner (18 and older only, please).

There is, of course, the inevitable backlash.  This youtube video, called "Anti-Twilight Moms," bashes the crazy antics of these uber-mama fans.  A sample of the lyrics:

     "They take pictures with little boys [the actors in the movie]
     They put your face on their sex toys
     They've even got into the prom
      I'm talking about the Twilight Moms"

I don't know what to think of it all.  It is a bit crazy.  The friend who hooked me got another friend hooked, and I got my neighbor on board.  We are all acting very un-motherly about it all, debating whether we would rather date the 17 year old vampire or the 16 year old werewolf (I alone voted for the werewolf).  I might have neglected my parenting duties a little bit while I was reading the books (there are four of them), and I did burn at least one dinner while I was focused on whether Edward and Bella would ever get together.  It was fun while it lasted and I am looking forward to the movie.  Part of me even wants to go to Forks, a town with only two stop lights, even though I have been there several times (well, driven through several times on my way to somewhere more interesting).  I wouldn't say I'm crazy.  Not really.  Ok, maybe a little, but good crazy, and it is only temporary insanity.  But like I said, I would avoid the movies next Friday.  The fans are going to be intense... and I will be the first one in line.

Want to see some Twilight Moms in the wild?  Check out the Twilight Movie Pre-Release Party at Borders Books, for Twilight-themed  charades, soundtrack listening party, and more.

Are You Ready for Twilight?  Party
When:  November 15, 2008 7:00 PM
Where:  Borders Books, Redmond Town Center, Redmond, WA 98052
Website:  http://www.borders.com/online/store/EventView?city=&state=&zipCode=&within=&all_stores=&selectedStoreId=10732&eventId=273720

Where:  Borders Books, 2437 Southcenter Mall, Tukwila, WA 98188
Website:  http://www.borders.com/online/store/EventView?city=&state=&zipCode=&within=&all_stores=&selectedStoreId=10673&eventId=273461