Our Child and the Healthy Obsession

"Harry Potter". A former obsession. 
The Oppressed has moved on to other
things, but she still has a place in her 
heart for J.K. Rowling's creation.

Parents know what it's like when their child discovers something new. It can last for a week, or a few years. Either way, your child's obsession will be something everyone at home will know about.

If you're a parent, at one point your child has had an obsession with something; a movie, a book, a fictional character. It may even be a food that your child had to eat every day. Sometimes it's alright to indulge your cherub in that which gives them great joy. Other times, especially in cases of food, you need to step in and limit what they think they need every day.

The World of Percy Jackson

My youngest daughter is no different. Our dear little tween has discovered the world of Percy Jackson and his books. I'm not quite sure how she came across this treasury, but she did. I'm glad her obsession is reading. There are a lot worse things she could be fixated on, and I'm sure there are a lot of parents who try (not always successfully) to get their kids to open a book during summer vacation. Summer reading can be a chore for both the child and the parent.

Reports on the Plot and Characters

Reading about Percy, the brainchild of Rick Riordan, is something that has put The Oppressed on edge. Every time she comes across a plot twist, the reading stops and she is tearing around the house to look for me and/or Wife. We know why she's looking for us at this point. If we didn't, the wide-eyed dropped jaw and heavy breathing will clue us in. The Oppressed will make her entrance and proceed to take a moment to collect herself before letting us in on the latest developments of her selection. Her not-so-brief synopses and recaps will also include her opinions on character who deserve to live or die because they did something great or sinister.

Rick Riordan's works have captivated my
 daughter's imagination and fueled an
interest in mythology.

These plot rundowns usually include a history lesson. The Oppressed will let us know about the characters involved and the gods and goddesses who begot them. She also likes to tell us the parallel between the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses as a little bonus. These dissertations can last for a while and include tangents about other characters who are not in the specific scene being discussed. The Oppressed just likes to refresh our memories about past discussions and characters that had previously been introduced. Wife and I try to keep up as much as we can. Then again, I'm still struggling to keep up with the characters, relationships, and scenarios in Harry Potter. I do my best. The Oppressed has also shown an interest in "Six of Crows", a book by Leigh Bardugo. Again, Wife and I try to keep up with the updates and cliffhangers.

We've all Been There

These updates usually go on for a while. Most of the time, we just listen to The Oppressed and offer what little feedback and opinions we can. There was one time when something had to be explained to her. Our daughter was most displeased when a book ended without resolution. She was furious. How could someone have the audacity to write a book without the courtesy of wrapping things up in a neat and tidy style. I had to give her a lesson on cliffhangers and explain that series installments "end" with such a thing to leave the reader wanting more. It's a sharp marketing strategy. You'd think someone who's been watching television shows would be wise to this. Oh well. It's just another thing us parents have to explain to our children.

Wife and I get daily updates
on "Six of Crows".

This fixation may or may not stay. Maybe our daughter will be a lifelong Percy Jackson fan. Mr. Riordan and his bank account will certainly appreciate that. I know our local bookstore already does. Maybe she'll move on to another author or subject, or she'll move on to another hobby. My childhood obsessions included baseball and the Alamo, among other things. You can imagine my excitement when I learned Roger Clemens, my favorite player at the time, came from Texas. Anyway, I understand the excitement she has when turning the page and finding out something new. I can also understand discovering something and wanting to learn more about it, wanting to get into it and finding out as much as you can. When you're a parent, you want to know what your kids are up to. When they are into something healthy and productive, you want to nurture that, especially when it comes to creativity and imagination. Wife and I are doing what we can for her, and we'll be ready to do the same when another of our children discovers their next healthy obsession.

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