Star Wars loomed large in my childhood. I was born the year the first film came out (Episode IV: A New Hope). My baby and early childhood nickname was actually Yoda (terribly embarrassing to me as a little girl). Apparently, I had white hair, but not much of it, when I was a baby, and my ears were a little pointy at the top. Hence, Yoda. My older brother had Star Wars wallpaper, and I recall my dad dressing up in a (very convincing) Darth Vader costume one year for Halloween. My father loved the films too, and I grew up with an affinity for them as well — largely because watching the films was always a family affair. The movies have intertwined in my mind with happy childhood memories of time together as a family with popcorn my dad made on the stove.

Now, I have my own family and my oldest son (4) has discovered Star Wars, which mean his little brother (2 1/2) is discovering it, too. It’s interesting to see Star Wars through his eyes and notice which characters interest him, especially now that there are three more movies than there were when I was a child — as well as a slew of other Star Wars worlds and stories for him to explore.

And, he loves it. But, the funny thing is he hasn’t even seen the movies yet. Still, he knows the whole story — and was blown away (of course) when he discovered that Anakin Skywalker was Darth Vader. It was interesting to see him be shocked by the knowledge that Anakin, a young Jedi he really liked, could become a “bad guy” like Darth Vader rather than my own childhood memory of being blown away by the discover that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker’s father, since I didn’t grow up knowing Anakin.

Similar to me as a child, he also loves R2D2 (who was always my favorite) and Yoda. He walks around the house pretending to be R2D2, and we’ve made an R2D2 robot from a cardboard box. There’s also times when communication around here gets a little tricky because he’s decided to be Chewbacca and, thus, will only speak like Chewbacca. (I need a translator!)

We’ve made light sabers from paper towel rolls and turned aprons into makeshift Jedi cloaks, and all this without having seen the movies. He’s discovering Star Wars through Angry Birds, Lego and Star Wars cartoons. Yet, the similarity comes in that the core story still captivates him — a story he’s discovered primarily through the Star Wars Lego game. We’ve also found some good “I Can Read” Star Wars books at the library that are quite basic and at his level, including a Star Wars Angry Birds book, which is the one that makes me laugh the most.

I love, too, that the same classic music I grew up with in the films has already captivated him as he hears it in the games he plays. He especially loves the Cantina music and, of course, the Darth Vader theme and requests to listen to them quite often.

The best thing about his love of Star Wars is that it resonates and connects with my own childhood. It pulls me back in time — I can relate and connect with his childhood wonder and love for it because I recall those similar feelings from my own childhood, and I look forward to the time when we’ll all watch the films as a family.

This weekend, in Santa Clarita, there’s a few opportunities to celebrate Star Wars.

Brave New World Comics on Lyons Avenue in Newhall will surely have a few Star Wars characters and goodies on hand for Free Comic Book Day (TODAY!). Their doors open at 11 a.m., but lines often form as early as 9 a.m. You can even dress up yourself as your favorite Star Wars character (trust me, there will lots of people dressed up) and enjoy free comics books (obviously), free stickers, art lessons, gaming demos, sketches (caricatures), balloons, music and much more. There were also be food trucks on hand and a charity bake sale to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. So, head on over!

The Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library hosts a May the Fourth Be With You Celebration on Sunday, May 4, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. with Star Wars-themed crafts and activities, including a chance for kids to make their own light sabers.

And the Disney Store at the Westfield Valencia Town Center is also hosting a Star Wars Event, which begins at 12:30 p.m. (with a free Star Wars pin to the first 100 guests). The event is for ages 3 and up and focuses on “teaching Younglings the Way of the Force.”

So if you have a child who, like mine, loves Star Wars, enjoy some family time this weekend that involves “the force.” (Or, if you’re the Star Wars/Sci-Fi/comic lover head over to Free Comic Book Day now! It’s for grown-ups too!)

Jennifer Fischer is co-founder of the SCV Film Festival, a mom of two, an independent filmmaker and owner of Think Ten Media Group, whose Generation Arts division offers programs for SCV youth. She writes about her parenting journey on her blog, The Good Long Road. Her commentary is published Saturdays on SCVNews.com.