November 7, 2007

• Magic

  Yesterday I left the kids with a friend for about 45 min. while I went to vote. On our way back home, Will excitedly related to me--with great expression-- the details of the movie he had been watching while I was gone, (the original Charlotte's Web.)

  Now a lot of people will disagree with me on this, but I am picky about what my kids watch, even among the kids stuff. I just think there is way too much junk out there. And why do little kids need to be exposed to all this stuff anyway? I am a great believer in letting little kids be little while they can. They'll lose their innocence all too soon, anyway; let them believe there are no bad guys in the world while they still can.

  So anyway, as Will was telling me about the movie, in his animated voice and with hands and arms describing the scene, ("Charlotte, the spider, she  can write things--words!-- in her web!"), the magic that I once knew and loved so well came washing back over me. As I remembered reading (and watching, too, but mostly reading) all those kids' classics: Charlotte's Web, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Trumpet of the Swan, My Side of the Mountain, Stuart Little, The Sound of Music and so many more, the magic just was suddenly so real again; how real and relatable the characters were, and how intensely I followed the plot lines, rooting for Wilbur or Sam or whoever the hero might be.

  Watching Will get swept up in the retelling of the movie made me wistful for the days when I was a little less busy and a little less organized; when I would flop on my beanbag pillow and lose myself in a book for hours. But it also made me so grateful-- grateful that I have a chance to pass this magic on to my kids. To show them the very real joy and plain ol' satisfaction that can be found in books (and yes, movies, too.) 

  • 3:51 pm
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