Why would a superhero want a sidekick? I guess it gets boring hanging out in alleys and rooftops all alone with nothing to do since the vast majority of crimes happen indoors, so it would be nice to have someone to talk to, but a child? What could they possibly talk about? The comfort of codpieces? That’s not at all a strange conversation for an adult to have with his youthful ward (sarcasm font).
Having a sidekick comes with all this responsibility, having to teach this kid all of your skills all without the emotional acumen to discourage this kid not to lead a life of all-consuming obsession that leads to being an adult who is only being capable of forming a meaningful interpersonal relationship with a teenager. It’s like having a child obsessed with cosplay whom you constantly thrust between you and homicidal maniacs, except without consequence or whisper from Family Protective Services.
That said, maybe I should start training my kid to be less of my boring child and more of a crime fighting minion. That sounds bad. Not a minion, more of an agile, hyper-violent family mascot.
“Oh, you have a family crest handed down centuries past from your Feudal Lord ancestors? We have a savage champion and cape-enthusiast, protector of our familial brand, and I’m sorry to say, once she has unsheathed her sword, it must taste blood before returning it to its scabbard. Shouldn’t have let your labradoodle leave its waste on our lawn. Our honor shall be restored.”
Maybe if I just couch it in the right terminology, my spouse won’t question why I’ve enrolled our daughter in nine different martial arts-centric monasteries scattered across various foreign mountain ranges and started to watch the movie Kick-Ass on an endless loop. If I just refer to this as an early-life apprenticeship, that sounds like I’m creating a life-plan for her, right? That’s something responsible parents do? Oh, what if I just say these are internships? So what if our daughter is only one? She’s certainly not learning anything of value from me.
“I know it sounds weird to send our child to scale the Himalayas in search of an invisible castle that can only be found by whistling the forgotten song of Yamantaka, the conqueror of death; but is it any weirder for her to learn how to shovel fistfuls of Cookie Crisp into her maw while sobbing watching the Planet of the Apes movies? She shall return to us, stronger, smarter, more useful in dealing with the road rage incidents I habitually cause.”
I don’t want her to be a full-fledged vigilante superhero, that would require my death. She shouldn’t have to grow up without the type of strong parental influence it takes to send her to problematic exoticized monk martial arts training. To think, some people settle for sending their kids to military school. It’s hard being the only sane, responsible parent in a world of myopic chaos.
Strangely Naked 
I’m glad you got to the whole “being a superhero would require my death” point – that’s exactly what I was thinking…they all have some kind of crazy messed up tragic backstory.
Re: sobriety – Come jump on the horrible sober wagon!! are you doing a month sober too? Or just…sober…*gasp* forever? Maybe we should come up with our own 12 steps. Step 1: curse dramatically at your cat (or baby).
LikeLike
I feel like, if a masked one-year old came running at them, a lot of people would think twice. Maybe say, “Am I supposed to fight this kid?”
It could be those crucial few seconds needed for you to get the upper hand.
Not me, of course, but a lot of people.
Do you even have a super power, though?
LikeLike
I’m working on it! So far, I can’t move things with my mind and that radioactive gerbil bite just bestowed upon me the power of incontinence and all my hair falling out.
LikeLike
We all have a superpower, but few of us realize it. I’ve heard the realization comes often with the last breath we take. I think that covers the death part.
LikeLike
Well, in Kick-Ass, a 12 year old Chloe Grace Moretz was already beating up 10 well-trained adults at once, so I’m going to assume your baby can take… uh… maybe 2?
I’ll send a couple of my best assassins later and you can let me know how it went.
LikeLike
Okay, your assassins showed up. Apparently all she had for a defense was projectile feces. Gotta say, it’s not kung-fu, but it’s pretty affective.
LikeLike
I sent my daughter to superhero school. Haven’t seen her since.
Love,
Janie
LikeLike
Have you seen the movie “Logan” yet? I think X-23 is the model you need for your daughter.
LikeLike
Ok this left me thinking and thinking gives me a headache, just so you know, I don’t like to think it is bad for my health, however, I am glad I came and read and got a headache, just saying
LikeLike
The sidekick is like the backup dancer to a famous pop singer. Nobody cares or notices what they do. Plus, the pay must be abysmal. Don’t do it, PVP. Train her to be the main kick.
LikeLike