Super Ben

So game/movie night this week consisted of our first ever viewing of the Disney movie Mulan. It's actually a little rough and tough being that it's about a battle and all... and of course there is a villain. Which I know many parents would shield their children from. And we certainly have and still do... but Ben is pretty perceptive and it's hard to hide all forms of meanness from him. Unfortunately, you can find it anywhere... in the neighbor who screams at her teenagers, in the owner who hits his dog, even in other kids at the playground. That doesn't mean that I don't think the world isn't full of a whole lot of goodness and kindness too... I'm just saying that realistically speaking, Ben already knows that there are "villains" out there.
Anyway, back to the movie. It totally inspired "Super Ben" to emerge. Super Ben in Benjamin's title (thought up by him) for his alter ego who emerges when someone needs rescued or justice needs served! We're still working on the costume as we're letting him come up with that too... I'm not one to stifle individuality and the creative spirit... so far he's torn between his hooded bath towel used as a cape and a t-shirt pulled halfway over his head and left dangling.
So, Mulan definitely called for the return of "Super Ben" and he was ready to do battle as evident in the following phrases heard many, many, too many to count, times:

"And I HIT the MEAN MAN with my... with a SHOVEL! And I tell him YOU STOP DOING THAT RIGHT NOW! ARGGGGGG!"

"Mommy... MOMMY! I GET THAT MEAN MAN! I hit him with my BAT!"

"I do it like this mom... I MAKE YOU STOP THAT RIGHT NOW! Then I put a basket over his head."

The good news:
1. it led to a lot of really good conversations

2. he knows that what the bad guy was doing was bad and celebrated the good guys winning in the end (a very important concept I believe)

3. he wasn't really scared... it just brought out the crime and justice fighter in him

4. it really inspired his rock'em sock'um boyness which I think too often can be covered up rather then properly channeled

5. he was absolutely precious telling me not to worry because he would save me! how sweet he is to his mommy!

I never realized that my adventures right here at home could be so much cooler then all the adventures I've ever gone on around the world as a AF pilot.

love,

Love playing the damsel in distress :)