estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Monday’s trip to school and two music requests. I took an L suggesting Justin Michael Williams “I Am Enough.” Instead, “play ‘I’m a Dog,’” Kaiden said. While I was hoping he didn’t quite remember whose song that was, he replied “Gucci Mane” when I inquired (never mind that I am not a fan of this song). We played it and it was a great reminder we’ll be going through lessons on misogyny and such. After that impressionable song, he 180 degree detoured to “Pure Imagination” — from the recent motion picture, Wonka.

As we pulled up to drop off, this moment was different. He sat in his car seat. His six-year-old hands rested low and calm. He didn’t turn his head once to see if any of his friends were in fierce competition to be first in class. There he sat and listened to the words. Lip synched something so pure and imaginative.

The song, “Pure Imagination” by Timothée Chalamet begins:

“Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination”

— Pure Imagination by Timothée Chalamet

Drawing of Blue, Pikachu, Sonic, and Bob by Kaiden

When I talk about living life in the present, it’s this moment that etched into me something purely beautiful. It reminded me of the 90s kid nostalgia for movies like the Lion King where you don’t always know why, but it feeds your soul. It reminded me of why I’m choosing to practice a kind of love that is present, purposeful, and passionate.

It reminded me that as much as we wish to have endless chances, like our own, our children’s childhood only comes once. It drove home two questions for me: 1) What magic am I choosing to make for my child? And in the process, 2) What am I choosing to make free with my inner child?

Definitions on childhood magic
When I refer to magic, I’m not issuing a grandiose decree about being superhuman, supermom, or anything extraordinary. What I am issuing is a childhood experience that comes with:

A little less shame and guilt and a little more pride and innocence.
Mom being a model, builder, protector, comforter, and demo of love in practice.
Experiences of multiplicity. Be it, more than one way to know, more than one way to grow, more than one way to be.
More moments to unlock creativity and willpower to explore.

After an unfortunate bust with Broadway musical Peter Pan, a Wonka matinee packaged with buttered popcorn and sour patch kids saved my unaccredited cool mom status.

Amidst the movie’s historical and complex themes on racism and classism, remained were still loving reminders for the child in all of us. It’s an underdog story of triumph against a chocolate monopoly, a drug-like cartel filled with themes of courage and determination. While watching, there were quite a few mama tears (no shame let it rain). What I loved most about this movie was that it offered endless reasons to believe in the magic of love and community.

What I love while witnessing Kaiden’s childhood and the other humans he gets to grow up with is their fiery imaginations. They’re minds are so innocent and free of the many risks and conditions our adult minds often center. When was the last time your imagination truly peaked?

“Reach out, touch what was once just in your imagination
Don’t be shy, it’s alright if you feel a little trepidation
Sometimes things don’t need explanation”

— Pure Imagination by Timothée Chalamet

It reminds me of the multiplicity in life — that there’s more than one way to see something.

Imagery of umbrella and text below “on a rainy day I like to splash and dance in puddles” thoughts and design by Kaiden

Being present for letting beings be
Behold the magic of childhood. It’s evidently what we witness when we let children simply be. When we let them see in gray. When we give them reasons for hope. When we build up their spirit rather than the slow and subtle murder of their thoughts and dreams. Childhood is most magical when we as adults lovingly and unconditionally take on superpowers that guide them on their way.

A surprising thing happened while at Peter Pan (albeit similar themes as Wonka). It took only t-minus 5-minutes for Kaiden to see Peter’s high-flying strings and thought the show was fake. Interest lost. Fast forward intermission, and we were waiting in line for drinks and candy. The group in front of us grew from 3 people to 6 mostly adults — my take was a likely “save my spot” situation. Kaiden noticed and was immediately upset. He told me it wasn’t fair. That I should say something.

My trepidation was real for a few reasons. I acknowledged his feelings and told Kaiden about how sometimes that happens. Sometimes life won't be fair. What I didn’t want to say and knew in my heart too is sometimes, they really don’t see us or won't see him/wont treat him fairly — an unfortunate reality for Black, Brown and other marginalized humans. I held that part back though. His sense of wonder and justice won’t be minimized; not by me at least.

It got to the point where Kaiden was relentless that I said something. So, I told the group our concerns, they listened, admitted the wrong, and let us go ahead of them. At that moment, although small and perhaps insignificant, I put on the cape to be my child’s hero. It was almost like he shoved my cape at me; as if he took it down from the shelf, blew the dust off and handed it to me.

At that moment, although small and perhaps insignificant, I put on the cape to be my child’s hero. It was almost like he shoved my cape at me; as if he took it down from the shelf, blew the dust off and handed it to me.

“Get up stand up for your rights”
I took care of his sight of the world and redeemed a glimmer of justice by standing up for us. In a real way, my inner child felt seen and heard too. Someone standing up and doing the right thing. Even if it was a small thing, it was the right thing.

These moments happen more often than my introverted self would like (theory: the universe sent me a relentless ancestor with endless lessons). More than ever, I’m aware of what matters to the human I get to spend life with and how I can show up for him. Every child deserves a community that wraps them in care and connection. Regardless of if there’s a biological connection or not, every child needs a hero/shero/theyro and so on. Whole communities deserve this.

Someone and something to believe in. Someone to hold on to. Someone to tell them their dreams are real and matter. Will it be you? Maybe, just maybe, this reminder is for your dreams. Maybe, just maybe, your inner child is listening too.

A penny standing up on a table with a small hand resting in the background.

“If you want to view paradise, simply look at them and view it,
Somebody to hold on to, it’s all we really need, nothing else to it”

— Pure Imagination by Timothée Chalamet

If you ever need a reminder to dream, it is seeing the pure imagination of children that awakes wonder and joy. It is in their eyes, hope. In their hands, the tenderness we all deserve. And it is in their dreams, in those wondrous minds where paradise reigns again and again.

May we cultivate the joy. May we let the tiny and mighty changers be. Imagine. Create. Allow. Repeat.