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mara williams
on Jun 18 2013 - 06:00 AM
Hey, manchild, mama says: clean your room, wash the dishes, don't drink and drive.
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Emily Parnell
on Jun 16 2013 - 06:00 AM
Eating fresh, local produce is good for body and soul
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Jim Cosgrove
on Jun 13 2013 - 06:00 AM
I just want to buy some pants. Please, turn down the music.
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Earlier this week my son said something that left my with jaw literally hanging open. Not figuratively. Literally.
"You know, mom," he said definitively and without reserve, "I like Star Wars a little more than Star Trek."
Excuse me? Did I hear that right? I asked him to clarify, and he did. He meant what he said.
Now, in order for you to understand the incredible shock which I was left in, I want to explain something. My father was an incredible Star Trek fan. In turn, I am also a Trekkie, complete with my own set of Spock ears and framed autographed picture of Walter Koenig on my wall. It's something I grew up with and when I watch reruns of the original series, I feel like a little girl again. In fact, I've remained a faithful fan through every movie and every series (except Enterprise, I think you know why).
My dad also couldn't stand Star Wars. Again, in turn, I couldn't stand Star Wars either. That is, I couldn't stand it until I actually sat down in watched it with seriousness. I can't say I'm a Star Wars fan necessarily, but I don't hate it. I kind of like it. It's kind of cool. Still, Star Trek is near to my heart and always will be.
It's not a surprise that I married an enormous Star Wars geek, though. My husband has had the same Star Wars posters framed and hanging on the wall since the very moment I met him. It's true that a Trekkie and Star Wars fan can live in harmony. We're proof!
At any rate, I had always envisioned my little Marc following my lead and falling in love with Kirk, Spock, Bones, and friends. His father is a Star Trek fan, too. It seemed like destiny. But I guess parents aren't the only influences a kid has in his life. Sometimes he takes a cue from his stepdad.
"Guess what Marc said to me today?" I asked my husband. Then I told him. Mitch threw his hands in the air and shouted "Star Wars!"
What did my daughter say?
"Star Wars!" Imagine that in a two-year old voice. Yes, my sweet little toddler likes Star Wars. Not that she's seen it.
"Charlotte, do you want to watch Star Wars?" Mitch asked her.
"Yes!" she said, emphatically.
"Do you want to watch Star Trek?" I asked her, hoping upon hope that she would say yes, even if it she didn't mean it.
No answer.
"Star Wars," she said.
I don't get it. I mean, they're my kids, right? I'm my father's child, and I'm a Trekkie like him. So, why aren't my kids Trekkies like me? Why aren't they like me only miniature?
And that's really what we're talking about here. We're not really talking about Star Trek or Star Wars. The truth is, I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that my children are not tiny Valories. They are Marc and Charlotte, autonomous and independent. They are going to choose Star Wars over Star Trek, or not. Or neither. They might not even like the Beatles, but some other noisy music that kids listen to these days. They could very easily decide to be like mom play guitar, or they might choose some other instrument. Or no instrument. It's up to them, because they are them and I am me.
The challenges of parenting are never ending. I could never have prepared myself for having my heart broken in that way! Star Wars is better than Star Trek? For shame! But I'll be prepared next time. And, I can take solace in the knowledge that at least Marc's love for Doctor Who is unending. Of that, at least, I am proud!
My husband is the same way about Star Wars. He's trying so, so hard to get our 2-year-old to like it (not that he's watched, either), but to no avail so far. It's breaking his heart.Luckily, if we are talking Star Wars, my son loves it as much as I do, even more in fact. We are planning his upcoming birthday party to be a movie party to see The Phantom Menace in 3D. However, I did discover recently something that did disappoint me. My son, a fantastic speller, did not sign up for the school spelling bee. He is in 4th grade, and it was the first year he could participate. This wounded me deeply - I was the county spelling bee champion in my hometown when I was in 7th grade and participated every year I was able. Alas, he is his own person, and I can't force him to do things I want him to do just because I want him to.That's funny thinking your son would like Star Trek because you do. My son hates all music I like, and most TV programs the adults like. I keep thinking he does it on purpose. I say I like, he will say he doesn't. Wait until he gets older. On the Star Trek note, we have a friend in Michigan that has a large part of his basement done up in Star Trek stuff. Life Size poster of the characters, models of the ships, all kinds of stuff. The one time we saw it all several years ago, he had every episode of every star trek (every series) and movie in VHS. He tells me he has since picked up most of it in DVD.
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