The idea for the kid came from Superman 2. When Clark gave up his powers in the fortress so that eh could marry Lois, his mother told him he would have to live as a mortal to be with one, they were in the fortress for a while after he stepped into the chamber and lost his powers. As you know he went back to plead with them to return his powers so that he could defeat Zod, Ursa, and Non but that must be where the idea came from.