by Carrie Bentley | Submitted Photos
Everybody goes through a Batman phase. For my middle son, it was more of a lifestyle than a phase. From the age of 18 months until about age four, he honestly believed he was Batman. And as Batman, he insisted on wearing a Batman shirt with utility belt printed on it, along with a black mask. He often spoke to strangers at the grocery store in a deep gravelly voice. He would burst into tears if anyone called him by his name rather than calling him Batman. He often attended church in full Batman pajamas.
Once he was really enjoying the pep band at a basketball game. I asked him if he wanted to play in the band when he grew up. “No,” he replied, “I do not want to play in the band.” I asked if he would rather play on the basketball team. He just laughed, “Mom, you are silly. I do not want to play basketball.” Running out of options, I asked him what he did want to do when he grew up. He laughed again, “Mom, I will just be Batman when I grow up!” Obviously Batman has no time for music or basketball.
I don’t know what it is about Batman that’s so attractive for kids. Whether it’s the cape or the mask or just the name, I know he dreamed of saving the day. He wanted to be ready with his utility belt full of just the right tools and grappling hooks when he was needed. He wanted to be an anonymous hero.
I have a harder time naming my own dreams in life. As a stay-at-home mom myself, it’s difficult to think too far into the future. I would guess it’s the same for most of us, regardless of our jobs and callings in life. I often had to fend off a shirtless crying toddler while digging through the dirty laundry trying to find a “clean enough” dirty Batman shirt. Nothing about caring for tiny humans feels very heroic. Many days, just getting through the day is enough of a dream.
In a lot of ways, my little dreamer Batman encourages me to dream big too. He pulls me out of my focus on the daily to-do list and pushes me to have a larger goal in mind. One day, while I was washing some dried splatters of food off the wall next to where the boys eat their dinner, my Batman asked me if I wanted to play with him. He told me I could be the Flash. I told him I could play as soon as I finished cleaning. He frowned at me behind his mask and said, “Okay, Mom, I have a better idea. You can be Wonder Woman and you can be busy cleaning my Batcave while I save the day.” And that’s all it took for me to transform into the Flash and join in the mission to save the world.
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Carrie Bentley grew up in Bismarck, graduated from the University of Jamestown, and now lives in Bottineau, North Dakota. She enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and quiet evenings after the kids go to bed.