A Bonding Moment

You see this little dude?

For years now, my hubby has been able to bond with him through their mutual interest in airplanes, Star Wars and sword play, while I've simply watched.

Yes I've taken our son on countless "country drives," and we've surely bonded that way. But we've never had a mutual obsession. Until this weekend.

You see, since before JS was born I've been a fan of the Harry Potter series of books. I love the books so much that I never -- and I mean never, ever, ever -- loan them out to anyone, no matter how much a person begs and pleads. (And yes, someone once did beg and plead.)

When I was pregnant with JS, I would daydream about the day my child would take an interest in the series and ask me to read the books to him. I knew that some elementary teachers read the early books to their young students, and I couldn't wait until my own child was old enough to process plots more complex than the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Now, you all know I simply adore that silly old bear. The Winnie-the-Pooh stories will always hold a place in my heart. But next to Pooh, I can't get enough of Harry Potter. And now that JS is eight, I think he's old enough to step in to that world. He loves Star Wars, so I had a hunch that we would love Harry Potter just as much.

So on Saturday, I took out the first two movies in the series and we watched them together. When he had a question about what was going on, I answered it as best as I could. And you know what happened?

After the movies, he finally took an interest in this Hedwig doll that had been in his room since before he was born. (Hedwig is Harry's owl, for those of you not familiar with the series.)

JS also started to play with this snowy owl puppet that I bought for myself him when he was a newborn.


But you know what the best part about the whole experience was?

Seeing him actually pick up one of the books and try to read some words.


Yes, it truly was a bonding moment.