What keeps surprising me, in a pleasant way, is how Mando’s fatherhood with Grogu actually looks like.
- He does not spoil him.
- He does not indulge him.
- He scolds him when necessary.
- He tells him to behave.
- He does not always do the right things in front of him.
- He does not teach him anything about the Code he goes by.
If there is anything The Mandalorian is telling us about fatherhood, it’s that it’s not about being a saint, or giving your child expensive toys, or prasing him always, or teaching him values.
Fatherhood is about having your child’s back. This is also shown visually over and over in the show.
Fatherhood is not about making your child afraid of punishment, but to rely on its natural instinct to love and be loved, and only say “No” when it’s necessary because the child does not have the judgement of an adult.
Fatherhood is not about feeding your child wrong ambitions but encouraging its natural talents.
Fatherhood is not about enforcing your own worldview or attitude or choices in life on your child.
Fatherhood is not about indoctrinating your child but relying on its common sense and give it some guidelines when necessary.
Fatherhood is about showing your child that you care for him and that you believe in him even if he has characteristics that you don’t understand.
Fatherhood is about loving your child always, even when it makes a mistake, or when for one reason or another it decides it that it must leave you.
Grogu knows that Mando loves him and keeps him safe, that’s why he loves him in return, and although he sometimes makes mischief, he never does anything really bad. (I know, some fans were upset about him eating the eggs, but he did not know what they were except that they looked edible. He realized his mistake first when mother spider and all her little ones followed them after he had eaten one of her eggs, and then again when he was at Frog Lady’s home and saw one of her babies hatching.)
And that is enough, fathers or future fathers who are watching. You need not be perfect to be a good father. No child could ever expect more from you than this. Have your child’s back, that is all that matters. Thank you.
P.S. Which is also why the Jedi were so terrible at fatherhood and why all of their powers and values were insufficient. The world does not need wise men more than it needs good fathers. (And good mothers too, hopefully.)
