Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A Galaxy Far, Far Away...

My three-year-old has become a complete Star Wars FANATIC over the past few months. Personally, I couldn't be happier. It sure beats the hell outta Dora constantly chanting, "Say! IT! LOUDER!!" until I want to put my foot through the screen. So, ya know, everything is relative.

What's been really cool about it is that, having grown up on the original trilogy and then the expanded prequels, I am also embracing my inner Star Wars geek. As a result, I am having real cinematic discussions about the series...

Granted, it's with someone who can't reliably wipe her own bottom... but, yeah.

Last night's car ride home gave me this little spot of wisdom:

"Hey, Mama, can we please watch Star Wars but not the other Star Wars, the REAL ones wif da REAL Pwincess Weia? Because the other ones have Queen Amidala and she's OK but I wike Pwincess Weia better and the Queen Amidala ones have some scary stuff and the other ones don't have that so can we watch them and maybe have a snack, like a lollipop, because I'm hungry?"

(I need to teach her punctuation.)

I try to weigh the merits of what Monkey watches, as to what it's teaching her either overtly or all sneaky-like. For that reason, there are a lot of shows (really popular ones even) which I don't give airtime.

IMHO, too much of what classifies as children's shows feature kids/tweens/teens running their mouths and being snotty and I just don't see that as a good idea.

So, let's look at what lessons Star Wars (and by that I mean all six movies, though we mainly go for Episodes 4-6) can teach kids:

  1. Help your friends. 
  2. You have to be smarter than the bad guys, especially when there are more of them and they're bigger than you.
  3. Don't underestimate the small and/or funny-looking guys... hey, Master Yoda may be small, but he sure can open a big ol' can o'whupass!
  4. Don't let your emotions get the best of you. 
  5. Find your focus by listening to your innermost voice. 
  6. Develop your talents. You have them for a reason.
  7. Be resourceful. (tauntaun Snuggie, anyone?)
  8. Some people would do anything for money. Don't be one of them.
  9. Honor your debts. Or you will find your ASS-ets frozen. (couldn't resist!)
  10. The person (or droid) who knows how to fix the computer is the one with the real power.
  11. Be willing to fight for what you believe in.
  12. The Jedi Mind Trick would be uber-cool if it worked in real life. (When faced with a reality I don't like or an argument I am clearly losing, I often reply, "These are not the droids you're looking for." So far it hasn't worked...gotta work on my technique.)

And, last but not least:

13.  The bad guys have better theme music.

May the Force be with you...!

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