banannie

A few weeks ago my nine year old, Tim, declared that he wasn’t going to wear a Halloween costume this year. I didn’t press the issue. He’s at the edge of tweendom, and I know better than to force my desire to keep him a child just a little longer.

Last weekend his dad took him to the costume shop, though, hoping he’d be inspired. Which he was. He came home with a Knight of Narnia outfit, complete with helmet and sword. He had neither read The Chronicles of Narnia nor seen the film The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. He just thought the costume was cool.

I suggested that he read the books (which were already on his bookshelf among the other hand-me-downs from his older brothers) so he could understand the story behind his costume, and he shrugged me off. He’s like that. He enjoys reading once he starts, but he’ll fight the idea of reading, particularly when the suggestion comes from Mom.

This morning I stepped into Tim’s room to find he’d read half of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He excitedly explained his costume to me. Later he came running from his room to tell me he understood the words written on his sword.

When Aslan Shakes His Mane/We Shall Have Spring Again.
When Aslan Bares His Teeth/Winter Meets it’s Death.

“They’re from a poem,” he said. “The spring really did return. And winter never came back.”

There’s nothing more exciting for me, as a mom, than seeing one of my kids in the middle of a discovery. I didn’t hound Tim to read the book. I dropped the suggestion then walked away. A week later, I’m sure if you asked him he’d tell you he thought of reading the book on his own. He won’t even remember that I mentioned it. Which is absolutely fine with me.