The other night, as I tucked my son into bed, I stumbled upon something that made me realize I was, without a doubt, raising a true nerd. There it was, a piece of paper taped to his bookshelf with the titles of all his books meticulously listed.
“Is this your version of the Dewey Decimal System?” I asked, half in awe and half in disbelief.
“Yes! I organized my books today,” he beamed, proudly showing me how each title was neatly cataloged and where to find them.
I had assumed he was just playing on his tablet like most kids his age. Turns out, he was honing his skills to be a librarian. Who knew I’d encounter such a level of nerdiness at home?
Of course, he had been dropping hints about his nerdy inclinations for years. From his love for cardigans to arranging his books in a precise reading order before Thanksgiving, it was clear he was embracing his inner nerd. And let’s not forget that birthday wish for a calligraphy set.
Then there was the moment right before summer break when I excitedly told him, “Just three more days of school! Aren’t you thrilled?” He replied, “Mom, there’s still so much learning to do. Don’t get too wild.” Yep, the love for the Dewey Decimal System didn’t come as a total shock.
Encouraging Our Son’s Nerdiness
We’ve made it a mission to encourage our son’s nerdiness and ensure he feels proud of his passions:
- We openly share our own nerdy pasts. Math was my strong suit, while his dad sang in an acapella group. We did our fair share of geeky activities and still found love, so it’s all good!
- We celebrate his nerdy interests. We want him to know that being “cool” doesn’t mean you have to be a sports star. He may not be the most athletic kid, but he’d rather create math problems or design buildings than kick a soccer ball.
- We’ve taught him that nerds are the ones who shape the world. Just look at influential figures like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Marie Curie.
- We stock up on books that feed his curiosity, from “How to Perform Magic Tricks” to “How to Build a Robot Using Kitchen Tongs.”
- We equip him with strategies to handle potential bullying.
I witnessed this firsthand at the playground one day when he ran up to me, visibly upset, and said, “Mom! That kid said I talk like a nerd!” My heart sank. “What did you say?” I braced myself for a heart-to-heart. His response? “I just told him, that’s okay. He’ll work for me someday.” Talk about a proud parent moment!
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In summary, embracing our children’s nerdiness can lead to well-rounded, confident individuals who are proud of their unique interests. By fostering an environment that celebrates curiosity and learning, we help them thrive in a world that often overlooks their passions.