What Are The Bare Necessities For Your Family! #PetesDragonEvent #JungleBookBluray

The Jungle Book Blu-ray was released this week! I was inspired by Bill Murray’s Baloo:

Baloo is a free-spirited bear who meets Mowgli after the man-cub has been banished from the jungle. His bohemian style rubs off on the man-cub, propelling his introspection. “Baloo is a huge bear, bigger than life,” says Director Jon Favreau. “He’s that teacher that you have in high school that encourages you to read the books that maybe you weren’t allowed to read, and opens your eyes to what the world is really all about. He’s a subversive thinker. He is not a guy who exactly fits into jungle society. He plays by his own rules and he encourages Mowgli to do the same.” According to the director, Baloo is more complex than meets the eye. “The trick with Baloo is to capture that avuncular nature that he had in the 1967 film. He was lazy, he liked to eat. But he wasn’t a big, cuddly bear. He growled and roared. He knew how to fight and he knew how to protect himself. And still he bonds with this kid—he grows to care about him. Bill Murray was able to preserve those qualities while still bringing his iconic voice to the role.”

Favreau wanted the Oscar®-nominated actor to voice Baloo from the project’s inception. “He’s perfect,” says the director. “Bill just exudes all the charm and humor that you need and expect from Baloo. He has a certain dryness and a rebellious quality.

I was inspired by Baloo to ask, what are your bare necessities?

My family’s “bare necessities” includes spending quality time together. This is becoming increasingly difficult now that my son is a teenager and has a higher quality phone. That means this dad has to get more creative so that our son wants to spend time with us, and talk to us, not just be physically there with headphones in his ears listening to music. We were almost about to travel to Canada this weekend to keep him off the phone!

To achieve our goal of bonding as a “bare necessity” of family life, I find setting ground rules beforehand is a big help. This weekend is going to be a staycation for us, so we are planning a few nice restaurant meals around New York City. Letting my son know beforehand that he cannot be on his phone at the dinner table is step number one. Step number two is thinking ahead to topics that will interest him so that he is not bored. I am learning that raising a teenage son in this day of heavy electronics use is causing me to be more creative! It is of utmost importance that the lines of communication remain open, and it is equally important that I at least attempt to set it up so that my son wants to talk to us.

Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn’t be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin’ in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They’ll come to you!

Family first, now matter where you are, is always there for you, no matter what. Baloo is a single fellow, but he recognizes that a reliable home is key! That is what these lyrics sing to me, that is what I want the next generation to learn!

Yes, food and shelter are the absolute bare necessities, but those are easily covered (at least until my husband’s unemployment ends!). Maintaining a relationship with our teenage son is the next level of bare necessity so that there is peace in the house, and a happy family that can share together, whether it be food, communication, or fun adventures. This may seem corny to some of you, but if you read my blog, you know that I am constantly thinking of ways to engage my son and keep him happy and feeling secure in his family and home. Plus we all want to have a little fun and channel Bill Murray’s great attitude like he does with Baloo!

In the spirit of the movie and the song, share with me what are some of the bare necessities for you and/or your family. Is it reconnecting over family dinners, sharing in an adventure, or finding quiet time to watch a movie with your kids? I encourage you to share what keeps you going everyday, and how often do you need to think outside the box in a Baloo like way!

The Jungle Book Blu-ray is out now, please read my review here!

Disclosure: Disney invited me on this press trip and paid all of my expenses. No other compensation was received. All opinions are always 100% my own and honest.

And we will always wonder if this is Bill Murray in here!