Ask any of my friends and they will tell you that I am known for my love of Snow White. I’ve been a huge fan of the movie and characters as long as I can remember. In the last year, a new character has come into my life and stolen my heart.
About a year ago, my three year old, Brandon, took a liking to Peter Pan. I found it endearing that a child would fall in love with such a lovely, classic fairy tale and character. Admittedly, I have indulged him in his new love; I made him a costume, bought him the Peter Pan playset sold at Disneyland, threw him a Peter Pan birthday party, bought several blue dresses so that I could fulfill my role as Wendy, and bought him lots of other pirate accessories for the days he feels more like being Captain Hook.
In the last few weeks, Brandon’s love for Peter Pan has become a full-fledged obsession. When he gets home from preschool he goes into full Peter Pan mode. Wearing just his green tunic and Peter Pan hat aren’t enough any longer. He puts on green pajama pants, brown shoes, the works. He’s talked about his desire for “orange” hair like Peter. He only plays “Peter Pan.”
I can admit that at times I feel like we are living the same day over and over with the same Peter Pan conversations and play scenarios playing out again and again. All parents know what I’m going through. There’s something about this age that makes them ripe for character obsession. For me, however, Peter Pan has come to represent so much more. Peter Pan is the boy that will never grow up and the aspect of my boys growing up is an issue I struggle with. One day my boys will be big men and I will yearn for the days when they were little, running through the house with their foam swords and hats. I wish we could runaway to Never Land and play and run and have fun for the rest of their days. I wish I could shield them from the real world of mortgages and jobs and stress. I wish I could stop them from ever having to experience heart break and disappointment and hurt.
But since we cannot runaway to Never Land, I am going to treasure all of our Peter Pan role playing, sword fights, and conversations. My three boys will always be Peter Pan in my heart.
Beth says
so sweet! I too cherish these special times with my 2yo son! enjoy and thanks for the blog hop! 🙂
beth