My greatest day as a dad recently eclipsed my previous greatest day as a dad.
The first one was about a month ago. I was wearing a Stormtrooper t-shirt I had gotten for Christmas. My daughter Lucy was sitting across from me at the table, and said, “I like your shirt, Dad.”
I thanked her, thinking she liked the artsy design and bright colors.
Then she asked, “That’s from Star Wars, isn’t it?”
My ears perked up, because I hadn’t talked that much to her about my favorite movies in the history of the universe. Yet.
“Why yes, it is,” I responded.
The thing she said next solidified that day as my greatest as a Dad.
“I can’t wait to watch that movie. Can you tell me about it?”
She immediately had my undivided attention and I spent the next ten minutes regaling her with stories about a princess (the perfect in!), a bad guy named Darth Vader, and a hero who just so happened to have the same name as her brother (Ben).
Up until that point, I’d had an ongoing internal debate about the proper time to introduce my firstborn to Star Wars. Of course I’d start at Episode 4, but my sense was that I’d probably have to wait until she was four or five. But this unexpected early interest changed everything.
My wife Kim suggested we start her off on some Star Wars children’s books, and wouldn’t you know it, the Easter Bunny just so happened to include a few used ones that he’d found online in her Easter basket. Lucy took to them like a Jawa to a junkyard. She even seemed to understand the overarching plot line, which is not always easy to follow. (Try explaining a “tractor beam” to a three-year-old sometime).
Then came the moment of truth. Kim thought she might be ready for the movie, and I agreed. Last weekend, after dinner, we all switched into our pajamas in settled into the living room for the first installment of Star Wars. (We divided the viewing into two nights.) I tried my best to keep Lucy abreast on what was happening, but she was already with me. Kim humorously observed that I was (allegedly) so enthralled with the movie myself that I didn’t even notice a few questions Lucy was asking me.
Lucy was hooked. In the days that have followed, she’s been playing Star Wars non-stop, running around looking for Ben and muttering about “using the Force.” She’s transformed into Luke Skywalker, Kim is Princess Leia, I am Han Solo (huzzah!) and her little brother morphs between R2-D2 and Chewie.
It was official. The day we watched Star Wars together for the first time became my new greatest day as a Dad.
And today may eclipse even that.
For today, my friend, is Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you!). And this evening, I will be surprising Lucy by pulling out some of my old Star Wars toys for her to play with.
I predict that her mind will be blown.
And that I may have a new greatest day as a Dad.
Jason Kotecki is a dad who also moonlights as an artist, author, and professional speaker. Jason and his wife Kim (a former kindergarten teacher) make it their mission in life to fight Adultitis and help people use strategies from childhood to create lives with less stress and more fun. Escape Adulthood — stop by www.KimandJason.com and follow them on Twitter @kimandjason
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As a Dad I can’t wait till I introduce my daughter to a few things that I really enjoy. I guess in a certain way I am already doing that with Music where I can get feedback on how she is enjoying it or she is not.Â
May be the Force be with both of you.. Thanks for sharing the story!Â
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I had a very similar experience with my son.  He has a heightened sensitivity and has even been frightened by the whale in Finding Nemo.  I wanted to share Star Wars with him so much but was concerned he would not be able to handle it. One evening I said an off hand prayer that he would find interest in them.  The next day he was rummaging in our video collection and held up the trilogy IV-VI and said “these look cool dad, can we watch them?”
He was six, the same age I was when the films came out. Â My heart leapt and the ret is history. THanks for sharing!
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What a cool story, John! I’m so happy you were able to experience that with your son!
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With Lucy just about three-and-a-half, the opportunities for introducing cool things and having shared experiences that she really gets are really exploding — and it is awesome. I’m sure you’ll also find that it’s one of the coolest parts of fatherhood, Raul.