Thursday, January 17, 2013

Magic, Miracles, and Misleading Movies

If you ask anyone, I'm the first person to believe in Magic. (At least. I'm the first person to get excited about something magical, even if it's a bit misleading).

The idea of magic thrills me.

And, apparently, it thrills my 5 year old because tonight he attempted his very first magical act.

And failed.

To his utter shock and disappointment.

And who had to deal with the fall out? The 'this is real life and that is make believe' discussion?

Oh, no.

Not me.

Nope.

I lied so bad, Pinocchio ain't got nothin' on me!

...But before I go on, let me tell you the tale of the time when my son's hopes and dreams came crashing down around him...

Since our move, my son has found a new movie obsession. (Now that I think about it, it's the same movie obsession that my brothers had at that age. Hmmm, does anyone else smell a Hollywood conspiracy?)

Anyway,

Tyler has been watching 'The Indian in the Cupboard' religiously for about two months now. I'm not sure if it's the magic, if it's the fact that it all happens to a little boy, or both; but he loves this movie.

Now normally, this is where a mother's tale would end.

Her kid loves a movie, watches it all the time, yada yada yada.

Yeah.

Got it lady. We've all been there.

Right?

But, unfortunately for me, this is just where it starts.

Because many moons ago, when I was just a young child of...I can't even remember, my dear grandmother made me, my brothers, and my cousins little wooden boxes.

The boxes belonging to me and her only other female granddaughter were, what else, Barbie. My brothers' and all my male cousins got boxes decorated after (you guessed it) The Indian in the Cupboard.

Not only were they decorated; she had also bought them the movie complete with the Indian action figure and the key to use with their boxes.

(And all my cousin and I got were McDonald's barbies. Favoritism much?)

...Flash forward however many years...

One of my brothers still has their box (or rather, they think they do but really my son has claimed it as his own).

Tyler has been playing with this box for a while now. Every time he watches the movie, the box is by his side.

Well, recently, we found the Indian.

Yay for us! Right?

So he now has the box and the Indian, he plays in compete and utter happiness, and watches his movie...end of story?

Nope.

I'm not that lucky.

(Because I am the cleaning type of person that I am) somehow today he came across the long lost key for the box.

Insert my 'Oh, crap' here.

And (as I'm sure you've already guessed) in goes the Indian.

Twist goes the key.

AND...

He's still plastic.

Shocker.

Enter crestfallen, heartbroken, and devastated little boy whom I now very carefully have to put back together.

So as he looked up at me with his big, brown, puppy dog eyes I told him exactly what he needed to hear to help him understand this momentous disappointment in his life....

"It's not the right cupboard."

23 comments:

  1. Ohh little guy. Perfect mommy moment. ;) xo

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  2. Auntie Bethy has more keys.

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  3. That's really sweet. I love children's imaginations--and parents who foster them.

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  4. Aw! What a cute story. You have an awesome blog :) enjoy your SITS day!

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  5. Great answer! It just adds to the mystery. I'd hold on to that as long as you can. :)

    Happy SITS Day!

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    1. Thanks. It was really my inner Chicken who didn't want to see that look of utter disappointment on his precious face. He hasn't asked again so maybe he's over it?

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  6. HappySITS Day. I loved this post and your writing style. Looking forward to reading more.

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  7. Good answer! What a cute story! Is he now looking for the right cupboard though? Enjoy your day today!

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    1. He was after this conversation. But he's moved on to other things like Transformers and Harry Potter. So I'm clear of this cupboard and on to explaining other ones...

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  8. Cute story and I so remember those days. Happy SITS Day!

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  9. Happy SITS Day! Such a cute story!

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  10. Ah, such a wonderful story and such a great quick Mommy fix to the dilemma of why the Indian was still plastic. Enjoy your SITS Day.

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  11. Love your reply! Good thinking! happy SITS day!

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  12. Great save, mom! What a cute story!!

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  13. Sounds like your son has a great mother! xoxo I know I would do the same...but, that's yet to be determined! lol You are a great writer!

    xoxoxo

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  14. Mommy to the rescue. Love that. Enjoy your SITS Day!

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  15. Love this. Perfect Mommy answer. BTW that barbie thing would have made me angry!

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    1. Right?! If only the barbie movies would've been created in the 90s. Or even a full size barbie would've worked. I mean really...

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  16. My daughter loved that movie (she's 17 now) and we had the plastic Indian and the key. And my ex(husband) is a magician :) He started when he was 8, so keep encouraging your little man (just let him know he's considered slight-of-hand)

    Stopping by from SITS!

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  17. What a perfect answer! Unfortunately, the next question is usually the one about Santa... Yikes!! ;)

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    1. You're probably right. And I'll be dodging that one with a cookie.

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  18. What a sweet story, and a great response! I have a ways to go, since I'm just expecting my first, but I'm anticipating those days of having to reveal when something isn't real. Happy belated SITS day!

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