When Star Wars grabbed my son’s attention, it didn’t take hold like other phases he’s skipped through. He didn’t just buy all of the books he could find and get all of the Star Wars Lego sets that holidays would allow, then move on to the next big adventure. No, he’s settled in long enough to know those books inside and out. He lectures me with details of characters whose electric-colored skin and snakelike hair only flash on the screen for half a second, long enough for a little boy to want to know who that character is and where he can get one.
His mania has lasted long enough for him to spend hours with bricks, instructions, and nimble fingers to create replicas of spaceships and scenes. Movies need to be watched, pages need to be read, and pictures need to be sketched of the insanely ingenious creatures.
I have a feeling a battle is about to begin....Ewoks, get ready.
Like many families around the world since the 1977 reveal, we have been knocked into space with no map and there’s no escape hatch. No Wookiee will rescue us from the dark side of clever marketing aimed at every eight-year-old boy and up. We are simply doomed. Star Wars has become part of our life.
At breakfast, we get to hear all about the new Lego sets coming out. After all, someone is turning nine soon. Bits of paper lay scattered around the house with odd beasts penciled onto them, dreamed by a boy with an imagination sparked by the likes of shape-shifting bounty hunters, giant aqua monsters, and funny-talking Gungans.
Did George Lucas know what he was doing when he created this other galaxy? Surely, he had no idea how big Star Wars would become. That boys, big and little, would spend hours on the toy aisle considering which character they should add to their collection. Thankfully, there are hundreds. Did he know moms would brandish light sabers, choose the Force or the Dark Side, and fight their children in battles of good and evil across pillows and couches, or do spot-on Chewie impersonations even though they were secretly terrified of him as a child? Does he hear about it every waking minute of the day from an obsessed eight-year-old? Does George Lucas ever play Star Wars? What is his favorite character? I’ll let him have my son for an afternoon to discuss it.
When your son takes your daughter’s barrette with long purple braids attached, snaps it into his hair, and announces he’s a Jedi, you know you have a problem. “Padawan, there is much to teach you. Controlled Jedi are. Use the force they do. Roll around like an animal they don’t.” Hmm, maybe I could use this to my advantage.
"Listen to your mother you will."
It’s said George Lucas drew from his childhood love of Flash Gordon, among other things, for Star Wars inspiration. I can only wonder what my son’s current Star Wars obsession will bring to his future. Will he create beloved characters for a new generation based on his love for Star Wars as he says he will? Or will he use his imagination for something else in brand-new ways? As a parent, I never know how all of the weird, nonsensical stuff my children do will one day play out in their future. But I know it’s my job to let them imagine, create, and have fun, to feed that curiosity. It’s also my mission to keep them away from the dark side.
Mom in the Muddle 
Oh Boy, my 4 year old just got hooked on the whole Star Wars thing…which confuses me because I only know the 70s version so I’m not upto speed on all the “new” characters and creatures. When asked at school what he would like to give Baby Jesus for Christmas he replied, “a little Aniken” – we’re so proud…
Oh, you’ll learn. As you can see, I’ve learned a lot. Wait until he’s older and watch the movies together. I actually enjoyed seeing them all straight through (except we’ve held off on the last/third one for now). Though hearing about it 24/7 is overkill
Really sweet post. Who doesn’t love Star Wars?
Yoda, my favorite character, he is! 🙂
Thanks. And yes, Yoda rocks.
What happened to Harry Potter??
Harry Potter hasn’t been nearly as big here. He likes the books but it hasn’t taken over like Star Wars has.
Your caption under the Yoda picture made me laugh out loud! May we keep all our children away from the dark side and allow their imaginations to run free. I suspect Star Wars will descend upon our house in a couple years and stay awhile, what with my boys closing in on 6 and 4.
That brings back such great memories. When I saw Star Wars as a child with my nephew (who was only 2 years younger than me–he was like a little brother), I of course never dreamed that 30 years later that would not only still be in our vocabularies, but my nephew still knows every detail of all those movies by heart. Yoda, never forget you we will…
I’m sure my son will be one of those guys, never forgetting a detail. He’ll probably know the lines. Now if only I could get him to study his schoolwork with such fervor!
My daughter’s boyfriend loves Star Wars (they sent pictures recently of the Mellinium Falcon from some Star Wars museum – I joking emailed back that I liked the photo of the Enterprise). He’s 21, a physics major and going to graduate school at MIT in fall. So not a completely useless obsession.
Oh, don’t tell me there’s a museum somewhere
Yes, I’m hoping the Lego building and imagination that come out of all this spawn something terrific. Hopefully not just a 21-year-old who still likes to hang out on the toy aisleFingers crossed!
My son is crazy about Star Wars Legos…he would love to see this pictures. I would catch him trying to watch Star Wars legos on youtube . Amazing how Star Wars go through generation barriers. Timeless!!!
I’m sure one day my son will be showing his Star Wars stuff to his kids. I may as well hang on to it, right?
Has he read Origami Yoda or Darth Paper yet? The author is coming to our school, and that is all the kids talk about.
Yes, he has read Origami Yoda and is partway through Darth Paper. So cool that the author is coming to your school. What’d you have to do to swing that??
What is it with Lego Star Wars these days? EVERYONE seems obsessed with them, not just your son!
Great post. Now get to Skywalker Ranch and give Lucas a sound thrashing!
Everyone IS obsessed with them. I see teenagers and grown men on the Star Wars toy aisle all the time, staring with their mouths hanging open. It’s pretty obvious they’re shopping for themselves. Come on. Maybe my son can sell his collection in 20 years and fund his first movie. ; )
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