Powers

The other night Jared asked me a typical late night Jared question: If you could have any super/mutant power, what would it be?

Too many commercials for X-Men First Class had him fantasizing about walking through walls and throwing Jeeps through black holes or whatever it is that thirty-something men would do if they had limitless power.

For as long as I have been asked that question I have always had the same response. "I would want to read minds."

I can't say that I've ever thought I would use the power for good, I usually imagined myself exploiting people Jedi style with a wave of my hand uttering, "This is not the checking account you want to deduct that payment from," and "you will install movie channels for me free of charge," and watching people bend to my superior will which apparently, mostly involves me getting things for free.

Moving magnets, shape shifting, invisibility and teleporting were topics fiercely debated between the two of us when I suddenly thought out loud, "But...what if I could read Dylan's mind."

That would be the greatest super power.

The other night he was annoyed that I needed him to come upstairs to get changed which meant he would need to be dragged away from The Clone Wars ( I empathize, Dyl, I do!) and snapped, "Don't touch me!" I could have cried tears of joy!! I mean, not exactly the words that every mother wants to hear, but they were appropriate words for what he was feeling at the moment and that is something that we don't get to experience with Dylan often.

Could you imagine the possibilities if I could touch my temples and suddenly be one with his thoughts? His feelings? I wonder if he thinks in words, or in emotions, or pictures. I would love to mind meld with him and figure it all out.

I know he completely understands most of what I tell him becuase I see the compliance in his eyes when he doesn't mind doing what I ask and the defiance when he's not in agreement with my requests. I can see beyond the challenges he has with verbal communication and can read his body language and his tone of voice. I can tell that sometimes he completely ignores me on purpose and it makes me smile becuase it's so completely typical of a four year old, it makess me aware that he and I speak the same langauge, even if that language is just between the two of us.

So, maybe I've already harnassed the power of my favorite mutant power. Dylan and I, and those who love him in and out and know his cranky sigh from his mischevious squint, can read each others' minds. I think it's definitely reciprocal. I can communicate with Dylan in raised eyebrows, pursed lips, giggles and large grins. We don't need words for either of us to feel the love that we so obviously have for each other.

As much as I would love to literally read his mind and put all the puzzle pieces together to satisfy my own curiosity, there's no need. I can already see his thoughts and see into his heart, and he is telling me right now that he is happy, loved, learning and silly.

And if he continues to make the progress he is making, in not too long, he'll be able to tell me word for word what's on his beautiful mind.

Hopefully it's something more insightful than "Don't touch me!"