ramblings

On Saturday while I was working for Jenny in her fabulous boutique, I met the raddest 10 year old boy while his mom shopped and tried on clothes. He had big, unintentionally cool, hipster glasses and the sweetest disposition. I felt badly for the little dude so cutely (and awkwardly) waiting for his mom amongst groups of women towering over him in heels, so I struck up a bit of conversation that proved 2 things to me:

1. I am cool with being a huge dork.

and 2. There is hope for our youths, yet.

Me: Hey, whatcha got there?
Kid: Oh this is my wand. {extends wand to me}
Me: Whoa, you sure it's cool for me to hold it?
Kid: Yea! My dad and I made it this morning.
Me, holding wand: This is  a pretty sweet wand. You like Harry Potter?
Kid: Yes! I love Harry Potter!
Me: Me too! And you've read all the books?
Kid: I've read every.single.one.
Me: Me too. Which one was your favorite?
Kid: Hmmm. Well. Probably The Prisoner of Azkaban because that's when things start get very serious...
Me: No way! That's my favorite too. And great play on the word "serious"...Sirius Black was one of my favorite characters.
Kid: ME TOO! And thank you. {beaming}
Me: So, which house do you think you'd be put in?
Kid: Hmmm...based on my strongest qualities....I'd say Gryffindor.
Me: Dude, me too. Best house, hands down.
Kid: My brother read the books, too.
Me: And which house would he be in?
Kid: Hmm...based on his strongest qualities...I'd say Slytherin.
Me: Yikes!
Kid: I know. Just this morning he turned my Legos upside down and dumped everything out!
Me: Ugh, total Slytherin move.
Kid: Total. He can be a sneaky little trickster. But he's not really "bad"...
Me: Well maybe he's less like a Slytherin, and more like Fred and George Weasley? Good kids, but love to play pranks and make mischief?
Kid: Yea! That's it. He could be Fred or George, so he can be in Gryffindor with us. I've also read {insert list of HP related books I can't remember}.
Me: I'll have to check those out. My sister gave me a Harry Potter cookbook with recipes like butter beer in it.
Kid: Awe man, that is so cool.
Me: I know, she's pretty great.
Kid: I'm turning 11 in January, which would be my acceptance year into Hogwarts.
Me: Dang, you're lucky. I seriously would kill to go to Hogwart's. How cool would that be? But I guess I'm a little past my time, huh? No acceptance letters via Owl will be coming my way.
Kid, chuckling: Well even if you were the right age, we are missing one key factor here....
Me, embarrassed that a 10 year old was about to remind me that HP is not, in fact, "real": Oh, haha, you mean the whole not having magic part, right?
Kid, appalled: Huh? No! We're just not British!!
Me, super relieved: Oh! Right! Totally right.
Kid: What do you think your patronus would be?
Me: Awesome question. Let me think. {pause} Because I went to a college with a big cat mascot, that would probably be it--a cougar or a puma of some kind. How about you?
Kid, sighing: My family and I took a test online and mine was a swan.
Me: Swans can be pretty fierce, ya know.
Kid, perking up: Yea that's true....
{shuffle of Mom getting rung up, more adult/child conversation}
Me: Well, it was so great meeting you.
Kid, big smile: You too! *flicks wand*

_______________________________________

Dear Amazing Future Kids,

I beg you, from the bottom of my heart--do not rush your childhood.

Imagine, play, explore every day. Challenge the adults in your life (myself included) to remember the importance of dreaming; remind them of how to be like a kid who sees the world from a place of light and possibility.

Cherish the days filled with time for crafting wands, reading for pleasure, going with the flow, being silly and finding uncomplicated joy in simple pleasures. Get excited over the things you love, regardless of whether or not they excite anyone else. Let your imagination guide you in grand adventures.

Don't worry about the things that come with age; the perceived benefits or disadvantages. Don't hurry to be older. If you're lucky, that will happen without any effort from you. Instead, be invested in exactly where you are at each stage; cherish it and give thanks.

Let it all unfold as it should. Do not rush to grow up or pine for later years. Never, ever wish your life away in this manor.

And Future Amazing Kids?

Always believe in magic.

Mama loves you,

Trish