Mostly, we've resisted the licensed characters that are on everything from toothbrushes to diapers to clothing around here. It bugs me to send my kids out in clothing that is essentially hawking a product and actually paying for the privilege. I don’t quite know how to explain it, but seeing O put on the cape we got from a friend and then the costumes to go with it, it was different somehow. O just loves costumes, and he loves the idea of superpowers and men that fly, and all the parts of the story I’ve dared share with him. I think he thinks of Superman as some sort of powerful do-gooder, there to save the day through kindness and superior abilities. “I saved you from the water!” he says. “I just flew right in and did that – you almost drowned!” Today he said, “There’s a kitty in that tree! Don’t call the fire truck – I’ll fly up and get it down!” Being more shy than N, O is so often in the shadow of his exuberant and socially confident brother, but with his cape on, he has just a little more spring in his step, a little more confidence. He appreciates the extra attention he gets, and he’s quick to add that he can fly when people greet him as “Superman”.
We have Superman costumes in both 3T and size S, and today, both boys put them on—one costume too small and the other too big—and we went around the block on their scooters.
N was mostly disinterested after the initial excitement about matching. He was more busy exclaiming over the wonders of balloon flowers and counting all the green tomatoes. N loves stories of all kinds, but for some reason the costumes aren't as compelling to him.
It took us quite a while just to get out of the yard, and it was a nice surprise when grandma caught up with us.
O was in his glory, scooting along faster than he ever has before. He told me before bed that night that he’s Superman even in his pj’s, because he can fly in his dreams.
Just don’t call him Superboy. He doesn’t like that one bit.
