Parable of the Pokemon

Once upon a time there was a 7 year old boy who LOVED Pokemon. Admittedly, he was obsessed for a time. His homeschooling mama didn't know or care much about Pokemon but knew her boy loved the stories, battles, creatures, and especially all their unique powers. He read chapter books about Pokemon, he watched the Pokemon show, he play with Pokemon figurines, he read reference guides and cookbooks about Pokemon, and he even slept on a Pikachu pillow. Every single day involved conversations about Pokemon characters and their powers. Like I said, obsessed.

Passion and obsession can be a fabulous tool in a home school. This wise (cough..... winging it) homeschooling mama decided to capitalize on her son's obsession and used Pokemon in her lessons (if that's what you want to call what we do around here).


Okay, enough with the third person narrative. It's late, I'm tired. 'Nuff said.

Pokemon became the subject of math, reading, artwork, and writing. So. Much. Pokemon.

"If Ash's team of 8 Pokemon battle against Team Rocket's 9 Pokemon, how many Pokemon are battling all together?" 
"Let's write a story about Pokemon that you make up!" You get the idea. 

I was so fed up with Pokemon and wanted to never hear that word again. One morning, we are working together to write a story and I started to really listen to my son's excitement. I asked a lot of questions about these useless, nonsensical characters and why does my boy really love them. Then - BOOM, like I lightening bolt I finally see it. I finally see the beauty of Pokemon. Here's why. 

S explains to me that all Pokemon experience evolutions, which is what happens when they transform from a simple, less powerful form to a more powerful form. Charmander evolves into Charmillian who involves into Charizard and has the potential to become Mega Charizard. 

"So how do they evolve, Stu? Not all of them evolve at the same time, right?"

No. First they have to develop trust with their trainers into order to evolve into a more powerful Pokemon. They can also evolve by conquering bad guys. However, some Pokemon never evolve. When they do evolve they might gain new types of powers (fire, water, etc) or retain previous types of power that are just more powerful.


My mind started to see how this applies to life, because that's what I do. Everything I learn I ask, "what does this have to do with my real life?" My mind began to spin! 

We are like Pokemon!!

We human beings are like Pokemon and our life on Earth is like our time to experience evolutions. We start out like little Charmander - a little person with a few powers and a growing relationship with our trainers. Our parents, teachers, mentors and most of all God are our trainers. We evolve through life too. We may gain different spiritual, physical, or mental gifts through trust in God. Through the same process we may become more powerful in the talents we already have. We also become more powerful by conquering bad guys, or our own personal demons in life. Some of us never evolve past our most simple self. Why? Perhaps because of lack of faith, trust, and bravery in life?



I can honestly say that I loved learning about Pokemon that day from S. We talked and talked and fell in love all over again, through The Parable of Pokemon. Kids and their imaginations have so much to teach us about life!