Mary Poppins: The Most Practically Perfect Film in Every Way
Lessons in Joyfulness from Mary Poppins, Helping Us Reconnect to Our Inner Child
Oh, it's you! Ello! Number 17 Cherry Lane, you say?
Well, come along with me as we dive into the joy, magic, and wonder of one of the most practically perfect films of all time (Bert’s accent aside).
My little household has been completely enchanted by Mary Poppins — the very first viewings of this glorious Disney masterpiece, and I have to say, my four-year-olds are absolutely obsessed.
They love dressing up with anything they can find around the house. Their imaginations have no limits, and it's inspiring to see such creativity from such young hearts.
And exciting news in the Dunkley household: last week, May won the World Book Day costume contest! Core memories in the making.
(A £3 dress from Vinted, I spray painted a straw hat black, added ribbon, made some paper flowers, the cherries came off a fake cake I had, and lovely grandma knitted the scarf.)
I feel incredibly lucky to relive the childhood joy Mary Poppins brought me, now through the eyes of my own children.
Raising little ones feels like a second childhood for me, and I think that might just be one of the greatest gifts of being a parent.
Now, SpitSpot and let’s dive into why Mary Poppins is so absolutely magical.
She has some great lines…
And iconic expressions…
In fact she might be one of my earliest feminist icons, alongside Winnifred of course. True goddesses.
Musical Mastery
Speaking of godly people… the music? Written by literal geniuses. The Sherman Brothers’ musical brilliance shines through every note, and there are so many incredible documentaries about their work. I especially relished The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition on Disney+, celebrating 60 years of the film.
"Let’s Go Fly a Kite" is possibly the most joyful song ever written, and "Feed the Birds" (Walt Disney’s favourite song) is a soulful anthem about the power of tiny acts of kindness.
A Masterclass in Creativity
Mary Poppins is a visual masterpiece — the costumes, sets, props, and of course, the unforgettable animated sequences (the dancing penguins!). A lot of this creativity was thanks to Julie Andrews' husband, Tony Walton. His obituary beautifully reflects on his inspirational life, and I love that he gave Mary Poppins her red coat linings and petticoats "because he thought she might be a little bit naughty."
Staying Young at Heart
And then there’s Dick Van Dyke — is it strange Bert is on my laminated list?
(Silly, kind hearted, great with children with a childlike spirit, phwoar yeh!)
At 99 years old, he’s still with us and still has that youthful spirit. Bert was 40 when he filmed the movie, his “Step in Time” scene remains an absolute triumph (I laugh with Mike as he’s 40 and no way is he doing those steps now).
He even danced in the second Mary Poppins film in his late 90s! Talk about staying young at heart (and in the legs!). If anything proves you live longer by embracing joy, it’s Dick Van Dyke.
I knew I’d found my soulmate in Mike when we went to our first costume party together…
Mary Poppins’ Life Lessons in Joyfulness
So, what are the joyful life lessons I’m taking away from rewatching Mary Poppins?
Here are some simple joys we've been embracing in her honour…
Fly a kite
PURE joy — and not very dear. We love going to the park on those wild, windy days to fly a kite. It’s a simple, but magical way to reconnect with the world around us.
Make Time for a Tea Party
I recently bought the girls a little vintage china tea set from eBay, and we’ve had so much fun setting the table and baking tiny cakes for a little weekend treat. Why not bring out your own old teapot, invite a few friends over, and try out your best laughs?
Chalk Drawing
Another simple, free activity we adore: chalk drawing! It’s amazing how much my girls love it, and passersby always stop to comment on the colourful creations — especially when we leave uplifting messages for them to read. Maybe I need to brush up on my ‘Screeving’ skills and create even more pavement art for others to enjoy.
Ride a carousel
This one’s more for special occasions, but whenever we come across a unique carousel, we just can’t resist hopping on. Last month at Whipsnade Zoo, Joy was absolutely thrilled with the zebra. There’s nothing quite as glorious for the soul — the music, the hand-painted horses, the smiles all around. If only the carousel horses could hop off like Mary’s do!
5.Feed the birds
By far the most satisfying and lovely activity to share with children— and really, it’s something all adults should do too. We’re found here most days feeding the birds, and in this harsh economy it’s still only tuppence a bag (more or less). There’s something so peaceful and fulfilling about it, don’t you think?
Watch the cherry blossom
I love watching people pause to admire the cherry blossom — the delicate beauty of nature in its finest form. The micro season of cherry blossom is so fleeting, so make sure you appreciate it now before it’s gone, as quick as the wind can change direction. In fact, I took this photo on my way to work this morning — a lovely moment, especially knowing that PL Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, is actually buried at St. Mary the Virgin's Church in Twickenham, London. What a connection to this magical story.
Now, onto the Mary Poppins Party…
The girls have already requested a Mary Poppins-themed party for their 5th birthday, so let the planning begin. Let’s just hope they don’t change their minds before then. (It’s in August)
Wishing you a Supercalifragilistic March, filled with joy, magic, and little moments that remind us to stay young at heart.
Great substack Gabi! That Mary Poppins costume is epic, and no surprise it claimed first prize. I love Dick Van Dyke too, the chimney sweep dance is incredible. My husband is Texan and he loved saying “ello Mary” in a very Burt accent to my lovely Mum before she died xx