conversation inspired by Rent (the movie, not the bill)
I sat down to watch Rent the other night and my 6.5 year old son decided to curl up with me on the couch and watch it too. I figured he'd fall asleep. But no! He has a new found love of musicals! He stayed awake past 10 PM, almost to the end--till where they found Mimi.
In my experience, some people have trouble following musicals or figuring out details like who is named what, what the problem is, etc. Apparently my son is not one of them. I was surprised when it reached the scene where Angel is in the hospital and my son sees Angel lying there and gasps, "Angel!" Very sad. Then when Angel died, ds was so sad for Collins and his lost love. It made me ache to see him watch with wide seeing eyes as Collins sang their song.
He asked me if Angel was a kid--maybe because she was so full of life and energetic? I said no, Angel was an adult. He asked me why Angel died. I told him Angel was very very sick. He was thoughtful for a moment and then said, "Like great-grandpa?"
My grandfather died of cancer while I was pregnant with my son, but ds has heard all about him. My son was seeking to make a connection between what he knows and what he was seeing. I explained that while both were very sick, great-grandpa died of cancer and Angel died of AIDS. I quickly ran through my head trying to find a way to simply explain what AIDS is to a 6 year old, but he didn't ask so I guess we'll save that conversation for another day.
It is amazing how such a brief conversation sparks so many thoughts and emotions for me:
My son is bright and intuitive and insightful and caring. I miss my grandfather terribly even now and wish with all my heart that he could have known this boy that loves him so even though he never knew him bodily. I miss my two friends that I lost to AIDS, much too young in their lives, and turned away by their families who were ashamed. I wish I knew if my other friend who was the lover of one of these men is healthy or sick or no longer with us, but I've lost contact with him. Cancer and AIDS have claimed way too many lives. I want to stomp my foot and whine that it's not fair. I am proud that I am educating my children to think about these issues and be aware, to not sweep things aside, assuming they are the problems of others. I am quietly satisfied that my son didn't question the same-sex couples or that Angel was a drag queen, because it indicates to me that he does not accept the heterosexist message society would have him receive that only a relationship between a biological man and a biological woman is "normal". I am resolved to not accept ignorance and complacency.
Oh, did I mention I loved the movie too? And when I asked my son if he liked it, he replied, "No." Pause. Smile. "I *loved* it!"
In my experience, some people have trouble following musicals or figuring out details like who is named what, what the problem is, etc. Apparently my son is not one of them. I was surprised when it reached the scene where Angel is in the hospital and my son sees Angel lying there and gasps, "Angel!" Very sad. Then when Angel died, ds was so sad for Collins and his lost love. It made me ache to see him watch with wide seeing eyes as Collins sang their song.
He asked me if Angel was a kid--maybe because she was so full of life and energetic? I said no, Angel was an adult. He asked me why Angel died. I told him Angel was very very sick. He was thoughtful for a moment and then said, "Like great-grandpa?"
My grandfather died of cancer while I was pregnant with my son, but ds has heard all about him. My son was seeking to make a connection between what he knows and what he was seeing. I explained that while both were very sick, great-grandpa died of cancer and Angel died of AIDS. I quickly ran through my head trying to find a way to simply explain what AIDS is to a 6 year old, but he didn't ask so I guess we'll save that conversation for another day.
It is amazing how such a brief conversation sparks so many thoughts and emotions for me:
My son is bright and intuitive and insightful and caring. I miss my grandfather terribly even now and wish with all my heart that he could have known this boy that loves him so even though he never knew him bodily. I miss my two friends that I lost to AIDS, much too young in their lives, and turned away by their families who were ashamed. I wish I knew if my other friend who was the lover of one of these men is healthy or sick or no longer with us, but I've lost contact with him. Cancer and AIDS have claimed way too many lives. I want to stomp my foot and whine that it's not fair. I am proud that I am educating my children to think about these issues and be aware, to not sweep things aside, assuming they are the problems of others. I am quietly satisfied that my son didn't question the same-sex couples or that Angel was a drag queen, because it indicates to me that he does not accept the heterosexist message society would have him receive that only a relationship between a biological man and a biological woman is "normal". I am resolved to not accept ignorance and complacency.
Oh, did I mention I loved the movie too? And when I asked my son if he liked it, he replied, "No." Pause. Smile. "I *loved* it!"