This weekend marked the release of the eighth Harry Potter book (technically the script for a HP play), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  By this time you probably know what HP is – I’m so excited for you to read the books and I truly hope that we read them together (that goes for all my kids – there’s never a limit to how often I can re-read these books).  It’s a world of magic and excitement that reconnects me to my inner child (who, let’s face it, is never too far away).

The first HP book was published in 1997, when I was still in high school.  While I did not discover the books until Book 4’s publishing, in 2000, it’s crazy to think that 19 years have passed since the introduction of the first book and the introduction of the latest one.  I remember each of the book releases from #4 onwards.  In 2000, I was a college student trying to find my way; in 2003 I was a student who had found my way – soon to enter the professional world; in 2005, I was a young professional living with your grandparents while learning the ways of the world; in 2007, I was questioning my career path, looking for my future, and living in the city; finally, in 2016, I am a husband and a father, established in my job, and about the same age as Harry in this latest book.

It must be amazing to be someone like JK Rowling, the creator of HP.  To be able to touch so many people with your words must be an amazing feeling.  I love and have loved the escape I feel when I step into the wizarding world and follow Harry through his highs and lows.  I felt a connection with the books, to the point that I think I was even depressed when I finished book 7 and realized it was the end of my journey with Harry.  While I’ll never write words that impact so many, I hope my words here impact you all (positively, of course).  I write them with you in mind and, as I said in my first post, with the hope that you’ll know me as a person as much as you know me as a father.

I am only a few pages into this latest book but it is clear that much of it focuses on the relationship between a father and son.  This hits me on a deep level, in a way it would not have 15 months ago.  Within merely a few pages, I find myself relating to Harry’s predicament and his desire to connect with his son; Sahaan has broken down so many walls within me (more on this in a post I hope to write later) and has secured a place in my heart that I didn’t even know existed.  I care so much about your well-being (all of you), to the point that it takes priority over my own; your mother also feels the same way.  So, let me say this now, because then it’s out there for you to read and remember.  And know it will always be true, no matter what challenges we face.  I am here for you.  I am here FOR YOU.  Let me in when you need help and when you need advice; put aside our differences or the fact that you feel I don’t “get it”.  As I have learned, parents usually do get it – they’ve usually been through it and they know how to handle it, whatever “it” may be.  Leverage my experience, my love for you, and my desire to see you succeed and find your place in this world.  Even when I disagree with you, I do so with your best interests at heart.  I will ALWAYS have your back, even when having your back means letting you fight your own battles.

Amazing the impact Harry Potter has on me (and, undoubtedly, others around the world).  Barely 10 pages of script, and I have an outpouring of emotion for my kids – so much so that I wrote a post like this one.