Posted February 18, 2026
Reel Stories: My Four-Year-Old Finds His Place At the Jacob Burns Film Center
By JBFC Member Chris L Vaughan
My four-year-old Noah raced into the screening room and found his favorite seat at the Jacob Burns Film Center. Soon the lights dimmed as the little boy reached for Swedish Fish. We were seeing “The Fox and the Hound” during the theater’s All Ages weekend programming. Noah was elated to catch one of his favorite movies on the big screen.
“What was your favorite part?” My wife Lisa asked Noah as credits rolled.
“Our movie,” Noah said.
Before the Disney classic played, there was a short video where I had the chance to talk about my family’s relationship with the theater. I shared how Noah became a filmgoer at JBFC when we took him to a screening of “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.” The video interview shot by the documentary filmmaker Sean Gallagher is part of the Burns’ 25th anniversary celebration highlighting all of their important film programming. Noah beamed when he saw pictures of Lisa, himself and I on the big screen.
Film helps us understand who we are no matter our age. My wife Lisa and I want to give Noah the theater experience to have that opportunity. That cinema has been The Burns where he feels comfortable and knows where to find snacks and his seat. Going to the cinema with Noah is now part of our routine and a perfect place to spend the afternoon.
After catching “our film” and the Disney one, we also heard from a parent of Noah’s friend. Her family also went to “The Fox and the Hound” and she was surprised and happy to see Noah on the screen. It was already meaningful for Noah to discover some of his favorite flicks like “Winnie the Pooh”, “Luca,” and “Mary Poppins” at The Burns, but the toddler getting to hear his own story is invaluable.
Whether it’s watching his first Wes Anderson movie next month or participating in a kids film class in a few years, The Burns is a place Noah will continue to learn about storytelling and himself.
Photo: Lisa DiCarlucci (Chris Vaughan’s wife) and their son Noah at an All Ages screening of The Fox and the Hound
Chris L Vaughan is a disabled dad writing about family, parenting and navigating the world with cerebral palsy. His experiences as a disabled parent and embracing C.P. have been published in The New York Times, USA Today, and Writer’s Digest. Chris has a Substack called Unclenching where he writes about these topics every week, and occasionally, muses on his favorite outfits. He also recently finished writing a memoir about navigating childhood with an invisible disability amidst family upheaval.
