As some of you may know, we’re in the process of discerning whether to adopt our foster son or not.
It hasn’t been an easy topic of conversation, as we keep going back and forth on what we should do. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the County makes the decision for us.
But in the process, I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to be this kid’s dad permanently.
I’ve thought of some very important fatherly duties I must perform… like when is it a good time to introduce Star Wars to him? Someone may ask, “What if he doesn’t like Star Wars” to which the answer will be “Heathen! That question is irrelevant because he will like Star Wars.”
No child of mine will grow up not liking Star Wars.
My wife already got him rooting for the Cowboys. That’s a battle I lost. At the same time, I don’t have the heart for him to root for the team that has a racist name AND is just down right atrocious.
Anyway, here’s the conundrum: In the introduction to the wonderful galaxy of Star Wars, where do I exactly begin?
Do I begin like I did at Episode 4?
Do I even let him know that Episode 1, 2, and 3 exist? Or do I just tell him a backstory of those episodes and say, “If only someone made a movie about Anakin falling to the Dark Side — but use your imagination. Anything you come up with would probably be better than those movies, if they ever existed.” And I’d be telling the absolute truth.
Would it be a form of abuse to let him think it never existed? Or would it be a form of abuse to let him sit through Episodes 1-3? I know that it’ll be a form of abuse for me having to endure Jar Jar Binks…
Should I let him find out the dark truth that Darth Vader is Luke’s father and have him wrestle with that pipe bomb like we all did? I mean look at that kid’s expression in this video. He’s confused; surprised; sad; angry even:
I think that kid’s face pretty much sums up my experience with Episodes 1, 2 and most of 3. Except, I’ll add in “sick” on the list of symptoms.
Fatherhood’s tough…
PS. Mr. Abrams, please don’t go George Lucas on us with Episode VII.
Joseph Yoo 
Chris and I just had this issue recently with how to show Eden Star Wars (she is now an avid fan), but he did 3,4,5, and then wasn’t going to do 1, so I did it with her, and then 2 and 3. It is serious.
Joseph,
I will add a bit to Katie’s post because I had these same thoughts as Eden came of age to watch and enjoy Star Wars. We did the machete and started with episode 4 then 5. The plan was to go directly to episode 2,3 and finish up with 6. Katie snuck Jar-Jar in and there was nothing I could do about it. Regardless of the order the star wars passion will run deep with your kiddo because it is strong with you.
Case and point, I entered Eden’s room tonight and she was giving lightsaber lessons to her stuffed animals. I feel like that is a solid “dad win”