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| Beards: They grow on you. |
"We did something this year that has tilted the Lewis world on its axis. We introduced our children to Star Wars. Life will never be the same again.
"We used to have regular conversations at the dinner table. Now they all involve distant galaxies, strange ships and names that involve a lot of Fett and Sith and Darth. We used to come home from the library with heaps of classics. Now it’s all 'Clone Wars' and 'Anakin Rises Again.'
"What astonishes me most is the urgency of this story, the need for them to connect it all in their heads. My 9-year-old calls to me after I’ve put him to bed. 'Mom, Mom!' He is frantic. I run in and kneel by his bed. 'What is it?' 'Would you rather live on Cloud City or Alderaan?' he asks. I slow my breathing. 'Go to bed,' I tell him.
"I sat my kids down to dinner the other night, intent on having a real conversation, the kind that happened B.S.W. — Before Star Wars. 'We’re studying the prophet Lorenzo Snow in Relief Society,' I tell them. 'He lived on a farm, and because his dad was gone so often, he had to do all the work. Can you imagine?' Their interest is piqued. 'He lived during the time of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young,' I continue. They are listening. This is going to be a great discussion. We’re going to talk about hard work and conversion and the powerful choices you can make at a young age. There is a pause. My 7-year-old pipes up: 'So if Lorenzo Snow lived that long ago, I guess he wouldn’t have known George Lucas?' You see what I’m up against here."
I love it! I think I would have followed up with, "No, but as a farmer, he definitely would have known Luke Skywalker." Thanks for the great article, Tiffany!
Thanks for pointing this out to me. That was a fun read. I introduced our six year old to Star Wars this past year when Phantom Menace got its 3D re-release. We went right on through and watched the other five. Now we have nightly lightsaber fights before bed (my wife made them by cutting water noodles in half and crafting handles by applying duct and electrical tape). We had a STAR WARS birthday party. My two year old daughter tries to breathe like Darth Vader; it's not at all threatening. Last month we watched the original trilogy, original versions. It's actually brought our family closer together. Now I think watching all six (prequels and Special Editions), then a few months later the original trilogy theatrical versions, will be an annual family tradition.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to have kids, so I can introduce them to Star Wars for the first time. Still trying to get my wife to watch it, but at least she knows that Darth Vader is Luke's dad now. :)
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