Number 5 Alive!

[BrenanMommy]

Recently, the boys have been obsessed with robots. It started with this Backyardigans episode in which there is a giant robot that they must stop. Since that time, both Bobby and Dax have both declared themselves robots on numerous occasions. They also have taken to creating their own robot costumes. Bobby came up with the idea. He took one of their foot stools and basically made it into a chest plate. He topped it off with a bucket. Dax loved this, and soon, I had two robots wandering around my house, both saying , "robot" in this gravely, mechanical way.

 

I decided to take this new found love of robots and run with it. My first thought was the Transformers movie. As much as I enjoyed the movie (even though it seemed like it was very similar to ID4), they didn't seem to get it. And actually, I found most of the robot sequences, with all the fancy special graphics, to be rather distracting. It looks just like this blob of metal a lot of the time. Sure, lots of moving parts, but perhaps a little less moving, please.

 

So I set out to find robot movies. Wall E isn't due on DVD until Thanksgiving, so I had to find something else. I decided to skim the movies coming on over the next couple weeks. It was there that I was thrilled to find Iron Giant.

 

I know I had seen it before, but it has been many years. I couldn't remember how much the robot was in the movie, or if it was slow. Either way, it had to be better then another Cat in the Hat viewing (my eyes are still bleeding from that. Plus, there is a part in which Sean Hayes shouts that someone is "fiiiiiiirrrrrrreeee  Dah!" Yes, fired. Dax now goes around saying it. Constantly.). So I turned it on.

 

The boys loved it. I had forgotten how much I loved it. Such a sweet story, with a good message all around. It was a little concerning when the ***spoiler alert*** robot dies at the end. Bobby looked confused, and I think he was gearing up to ask. But luckily, he didn't. I think the sex talk is going to be easier then the death talk.

 

You see, the death talk is scary for me. Aside from the fact that I am terrified of death, all the while morbidly fascinated with it as well, I don't have the go to answer that most parents have. I can't just tell Bobby that the robot went to Heaven. Ok, that isn't true. I could, but it is hard when, well, I don't know that I believe in such a place. I know that I have some inkling that I feel like there is something after death, but being that I don't have that really thought out because I am so conflicted, it would be wrong to confuse a 3 year old with my fuzzy logic.

 

So what do I do when he does understand the concept of things like heaven or hell? We have plenty of friends and family who have a deep, religious belief system as part of their lives. I want them to be exposed to all of these ideas and traditions if only to allow them to make their own decision as to what they "feel" is best. I of course also know that as a parent, I have the pleasure of placing my own views and morals on my child. Sure, they could go all Alex P Keaton on my ass and become conservative nut jobs. They could go to church 4 times a week, all because they feel the need to pray for my damaged soul. They could also become vehement atheists, deciding I am not quite extreme enough in my lack of organized religion in my life. Either way, I am ok with it, as long as they truly commit and are happy with their decision.

 

But until that time comes, death is a tricky notion. You can't tell them that kitty is now sleeping, since they it could scare them from ever wanting to go to sleep again. You don't want to tell them that they are going to a better place, since who knows, maybe they might want to go to and try to off themselves by downing all their Finding Nemo vitamins. I know that the topic will come up. We have 5 cats, 3 of whom are old, and 2 of those have been giving death the bird for the last few months. I am pretty sure he is pissed and payback with him is a total bitch. So what happens when Saavik dies in the middle of the night, and it is Bobby who comes across her first? He may not even understand. I know that when I was 5, and my mom accidentally backed over our cat Ding Ding, I was delighted since it meant he would finally hold still for me to be able to trace him with chalk. Yup, I was doing chalk outlines that early in life.

 

Lucky for me, the robot at the end doesn't die. Sure, he is all blown to smithereens, but the final shot is the head of the robot, and his eyes light up. But Bobby is a smart kid. I have a feeling he isn't going to buy that load of crap for too much longer. I guess I need to start getting my story straight.