Taking My Child Into the West

A couple of months ago I had about 3 loads of laundry to fold all at once, so I thought I'd sit down and watch The Fellowship of The Ring whilst I folded. Mason came home near the end of the film and watched it with me. Then he asked if he could watch The Two Towers as well. We actually (because we're really good parents) took him to The Lord of the Rings movies when they were in the theatres, but as he was only 2, 3 and 4 when they came out, I don't think he got much out of them. I was delighted that he would now be interested in watching the films now because I'm such a huge fan. I also did realize that he probably had ulterior motives for watching the films: while we would be watching the movies he wouldn't have to clean his room or practice piano or do homework. It's always good to take advantage of the fact that mom is watching movies in the middle of the day. But we actually only ended up watching them on the weekends and he fell asleep pretty quickly so we didn't finish all of them until Sunday night. I think it took three sittings to finish The Return of the King. (We, of course, have the extended editions.)
So, Sunday night we had an hour and a half left of The Return of the King.
Spoiler Alert!
(Yes, there are one or two people in the world who haven't seen these movies---Mom, Bree...)
This was a grand experience to share with my son. Through the viewings of these films, I wasn't sure if Mason was really gettin' it, but some of his comments assured me that he was indeed gettin' it.

After Sam rescues Frodo from the Orcs in Mordor, they disguise themselves as Orc warriors and try to slip past the armies to Mount Doom.

The sight of the great host of Mordor prompted Mason to ask
Why are there Orcs in this world?
Because there's always bad. Wherever there is good, there is bad. You can't have good without it.
I didn't feel like going into the whole Orcs were once Elves taken by Sauron and twisted and tortured until they turned evil.
Then came Frodo and Sam's climb up Mount Doom and Sam's great speech ending with "I can't carry it for you, Mister Frodo, but I can carry you!"
This part always makes me cry.
Why?
Because they're so tired and they have no strength left, but they have to go on. They can't stop.
It must hurt to walk so much.
Frodo finally makes it to the Cracks of Doom and dangles the ring over the lava.
Drop it! Drop it! C'mon, just let it go! Drop it!
After the mountain explodes and Sam and Frodo are rescued by the Eagles, Frodo is taken to recover in a softly glowing room in Gondor. Gandalf is watching over him when awakens and Frodo knows for the first time since The Fellowship, that Gandalf is alive. Pent up emotions and relief from long suffering spill out as Gandalf laughs from deep in his soul. Then one by one the rest of the Fellowship come into Frodo's room and there is much joy.
Mommy, this part makes me cry.
At Aragorn's coronation, he comes forward to pay tribute to the four Hobbits who bow to him. He responds, "No, my friends. You bow to no one." And he takes a knee in front of them, followed by the rest of Gondor.
Why are they bowing to the hobbits?
Why do you think?
Because they did all the work.
And then, the end.
Sam, Frodo, Pippin, and Merry escort Bilbo to the Grey Havens to take the last Elf ship West. Gandalf says, "It is time, Frodo."
Frodo says his goodbyes to the others and enters the ship.
Why is Frodo going?
Because he's a ring bearer. He saved everyone and it hurt him so bad, he can't stay.
Is he going away forever and ever?
*nod*
And never coming back?
*shake*
I thought I heard small gasps or sniffles in the dark.
When I was tucking him in I asked if he liked it.
When Frodo got on the ship it made me cry.
And he began to cry.
How come?
Because they're best friends and they're never going to see each other again.
I didn't offer any condolence. No words of comfort. I think you sometimes need to let a movie make you cry. I think it's good to be affected. And it was wonderful to share this kind of emotional catharsis with my boy.