So perhaps it is because May the Fourth is around the corner but most likely it is a coincidence, but Albert showed parts of Star Wars: The Force Awakens to Curie (and Elia) this month. We started with Rey and Finn in the Millennium Falcon with Albert holding Curie as he does playing rocketship and mimicked the movements on the screen. She, of course, loved it; but here is the thing, she loved it even more because the main character was a girl, and strong, and in charge, and as parents, we loved that even more.
Curie has known of Star Wars as the movie that Mommy and Daddy went to see, so much that when Grandmom and Poppup were to visit, she hatched a grand plan that involved Grandmom and Poppup picking Curie and Elia up at school and letting Mommy and Daddy go watch Star Wars. When that didn’t happen the way she planned, that was very upset.
So she loved watching Star Wars, and Elia too, they both wanted to watch it again. The next time though, Albert, without consulting Erin, also forwarded to the light saber battle with Kylo Ren (spoilers here). And though there were concerns about being scared and nightmares, the part Curie latched on to was when Rey calms down to use the Force. We underscored it by telling her how Rey calmed down to become stronger and beat the bad guy. That was powerful, so powerful that it has become a teaching tool for us. Elia of course did not sleep as well, and will say that part of Star Wars is scary.
We bought a few books (Elia can point out the scary parts, and will say “Rey” if you ask her what her favorite parts are) to read together with Rey as the focal point. Our daughters are Star Wars fans with an interest in space and scifi – but only because of the strength of Rey’s character.
At school, the boys play Star Wars based on the animated Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels, and talking to their parents, haven’t seen any of the movies yet, though A New Hope may be on the horizon for one. So Curie’s interpretation of Star Wars is different than theirs. One can only imagine what it will be like when they see the movie too.
So this month we moved of course, and Curie has loved the idea of sleeping in her own room. As we mentioned in Elia’s blog, this has meant that Erin has had to sleep with them in their room. Recently we moved them back to the big bed to give Erin a break, but Curie still wanted to sleep in her room. She also has started asking for healthy breakfast instead of just junkfood (of course our kids would lead us in this; we credit her day care). She loves helping to unpack looking (Erin’s influence) at the boxes like giant surprise boxes. She loves to help so much that she is upset when we unpack without her.
My Little Pony still reigns supreme, but that may change with the Star Wars influence some. While Erin was away on her trip Albert bribed the kids with a lot of toys resulting in a lot of little ponies, Squishy Pop ponies, and a few Thomas engines (which Elia loves). Curie still reminds us that she is working toward a mermaid doll on occasion reminding us that you have to be careful what you tell your kids.
Curie’s retention has gone up quite a bit and is able to sing whole songs with one or two listenings. She loves to sing the Coffee Song now and will sing most of the Brave song. She also sings songs from school and from Julie that Albert is not familiar with. She is growing fast and has fewer and fewer clothes that fit her. She is pushing her boundaries a lot and we have had to curb her candy intake and check her whiney-ness. But as Elia becomes more sassy, Curie becomes more mature, playing out the grown-up role in mimicked admonitions, or rules for Elia.
Finally, Curie went to orientation for kindergarten this month, it made us tear up when they led the kids away, but we learned a lot, and know that our day care has prepared her pretty well. She loved the experience and learned to put her sticker name tag on her chest when seeing the other students do it, went willingly unlike some of the other kids to the classroom, in fact was one of the first, and loved telling her friends that she went. She was concerned that it would be for forever, but we reminded her she was just visiting that day. She is growing up and almost in school, we don’t want our kids to grow up because we want to hang on to them, we want them to grow strong because we want them to be good people, we want them to grow up happy, because, well that is all we can wish for for our children, safe and happy right?
Guess what Curie’s favorite part of the movie is, bearing in mind that she has only really seen these two scenes? Her favorite part is when Unkar Plutt, played by Simon Pegg, sees the Millennium Falcon fly overhead and screams “that’s mine!” Curie screams it with him. That is her favorite part. Her second favorite part is when Finn says “I’m getting pretty good at this,” after shooting down a Tie fighter. And her third favorite part is when Rey kisses Finn when he is unconscious. Elia’s favorite part is Rey. What great kids we have.