“They Grow Up Fast” is a warm and wonderful family film, which not only shows how quickly children grow up, but also the lessons that families can learn along the way. Darren Doane, filmmaker, husband and dad, does a terrific job with this film, taking a rare and heartwarming look at parenting. The father of three girls and one son, he shares 10 family lessons during the movie, including for example Family Lesson No. 1, which states that “Muddy is Fine!” He encourages parents to let kids have fun and not to be concerned about a little mud. Another example of a lesson is Family Lesson No. 4, titled, “Adventure can be Disguised,” and speaks of a time the family experienced a windy day at the beach and the girls loved it, despite Darren wanting to leave in the beginning because of the strong breeze.
The viewer will get to know Darren’s wife, Natalie, daughters Xan, Emmy and Zoe, and son, Knox. Watch the kids grow over a 10-year period and view family events such as vacations, the birth of a child in Darren’s truck, and the family’s move to a new home. The family bonds together because of their devotional time and faith in God. One child sings a song taken from the Bible and the family has prayer time. Darren emphasizes the need for routine and structure, such as regular times to brush teeth, take a nap and take the girls to ballet lessons, but they occasionally break away from the norm.
The cinematography features scenes of California, Oregon, and Idaho, and Darren offers a warm and, at times, humorous narration. We are more than pleased to award this film our “Faith-Friendly” Seal for all ages.
