prePosterous parenting

About 2 weeks ago, my son started carefully considering how to manage the challenge of catching a leprechaun. Now he’s only 6 and still inhabiting a world of magical and fantastical thinking so I, of course, did not have the heart to tell him the truth about leprechauns – that they are very, very hard to catch.

Leprechauns are so elusive because they possess something of great value. If you are lucky enough to catch one you have a choice to make (and this is where my son began fretting). You can either take possession of the pot of gold that the leprechaun protects, or you can opt for the leprechaun to grant you a wish. Gold is a nice choice – and prudent in this economy – but a wish! That opens the door wide for even more than what money can buy.

 So presented with seemingly endless possibility, my son decided that if should he catch a leprechaun, he would wish to catch another. Clever.

I don’t know if this is actually allowed, however. It is well known that when you release a genie from a lamp, you get three wishes that are tightly governed by specific Wish Rules of Engagement – including no wishing for more wishes. This may seem like a tricky CYA move on the part of genies and leprechauns (if they do indeed observe the same rules), but one would do well to recognize this as the proper gift of confrontation that it is: you must choose.

I understand well the paralysis of choice. Sometimes there’s just too much to chose from; it’s overwhelming. Mostly, it’s about fear. We believe if we just keep more options open longer, that’s better. I don’t think so.  

So what would you do if you caught a leprechaun? I’m say we go for the gold.