During my first pregnancy, my sister surprised me with delightful care packages every trimester, filled with thoughtful gifts for both me and my soon-to-arrive baby. I still remember the joy of unboxing the first package and discovering an adorable onesie. I had yet to acquire any baby clothes, and this one was simply perfect. It had the word “Muggle” emblazoned across the front.
You see, I come from a long line of self-proclaimed fangirls—well, not really, but you get the idea. My passions span the realms of Harry Potter, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and The Lord of the Rings, among others. While some families rally around their favorite sports teams, in our household, the expectation is that you’ll join in on singing along to Broadway musicals and diving deep into the lore of “The Boy Who Lived.”
My kids are destined to embrace their inner nerds, and they’ll do so with all the fervor that true fandom brings. While other parents may eagerly anticipate their child’s first sports game or teaching them to ride a bike, I am eagerly counting down the days until I can settle on the couch with my children for their inaugural viewing of A New Hope. And no, we won’t be starting with Episode I – The Phantom Menace; not under my roof!
Extravagant birthday parties for kids? Not my cup of tea. I find them overwhelming and expensive, with all that cutting, gluing, and glitter. I prefer a simple party room at an indoor venue where kids can have fun, eat pizza, and leave without any cleanup. However, when my children turn 11, we’ll go all out with a Hogwarts letter, lightning bolts galore, and homemade butterbeer until everyone is sick.
What if my kids don’t want to indulge in Harry Potter, Star Wars, or belt out every word of the Hamilton soundtrack? Are you trying to shatter my dreams? They can explore other interests, sure, but why would they? The best fandoms are right here, waiting for them to dive in. After all, many of these franchises have been transformed into captivating Lego video games!
Every time I dive into these books, movies, or music, my heart fills with joy—except for Game of Thrones, which often leaves me feeling like a wreck. Yet, even as George R. R. Martin mercilessly eliminates beloved characters, I find myself drawn back to those compelling stories. That’s the kind of passion I want my children to experience regarding their beloved art.
While I’ve never been a sports enthusiast, I can relate to the fervor some feel for their favorite teams—except ours involves lightsabers and wands. The beauty of introducing my children to the world of nerdiness is that it’s a family affair. If my child decides to be Luke Skywalker for Halloween, you can bet I’ll don my Chewbacca costume, and my partner will be Han Solo. With nerd culture becoming increasingly mainstream, there are countless family-friendly activities to enjoy together, from Renaissance fairs to campus quidditch matches. There are even Star Wars-themed days on Disney cruises!
Even though my oldest is just 4, he’s already showing signs of embracing the nerd life. He has lightning bolt pants he proudly calls his Harry Potter pants and enjoys watching short clips from the films, particularly when quidditch is involved. Having the Hamilton soundtrack on repeat during daily activities has also paid off; just the other morning, he crawled into bed and serenaded me with his favorite tunes. It melted my heart!
The camaraderie some families feel while sporting jerseys and painting faces with team colors is the same kind of togetherness I envision for my family. We’ll don our Hogwarts robes for our annual marathon of all eight Harry Potter films or embark on a trip to the Wizarding World, proudly sporting our house colors. I’ll be in Slytherin, my partner in Gryffindor, and our kids will choose anything but Hufflepuff—because no child of mine will ever be a Hufflepuff.
As they grow, there’ll be books, toys, lightsabers, and wands to share. We’ll bond over every bit of it as a family of enthusiastic dorks—happy and united in our geeky passions.
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In summary, embracing a nerdy lifestyle with my children is not just about sharing interests; it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and joy in the stories and worlds we love. Together, we’ll create a legacy of enthusiasm and camaraderie that celebrates our fandoms.