During my first pregnancy, my dear friend Emma sent me delightful care packages. Each trimester, I eagerly awaited the next surprise filled with thoughtful gifts for both me and my future child. When I opened the first box, I couldn’t contain my excitement upon discovering a tiny onesie emblazoned with the word “Muggle.” It was the ideal addition to my baby’s wardrobe.
I am a devoted geek, much like my father and his father before him (well, sort of). From Harry Potter to Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and X-Men, my interests span a vast universe. In many families, allegiance is pledged to a specific sports team or university. In my household, however, children are expected to belt out Broadway musical tunes and immerse themselves in the adventures of “The Boy Who Lived.”
My kids will undoubtedly grow up as passionate nerds, and they’ll embrace it with a fervor only a true geek can muster. While some parents anticipate their child’s first soccer game or bike ride, I am eagerly counting down the days until I can binge-watch A New Hope with my kids. You might wonder why we won’t kick things off with Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Simple: not while they live under my roof. Move along.
Extravagant birthday parties for children don’t appeal to me. They seem like a lot of effort and expense, with excessive cutting, gluing, and glitter involved. I prefer renting a party room at a local venue where kids can run wild, enjoy pizza and cake, and we can leave without lifting a finger. However, when my kids turn 11, I’m going all out—with letters from Hogwarts, lightning bolts galore, and homemade butterbeer until everyone is feeling a bit queasy.
What if my children don’t want to read Harry Potter, watch Star Wars, or sing every track from the Hamilton soundtrack? Are you trying to upset me? Why would you even suggest that? Sure, they can enjoy other interests, but why would they choose anything else? The best fandoms are right here, waiting for them. Most of these beloved franchises have been transformed into Lego video games, for Yoda’s sake.
Every time I dive into these books, movies, or songs, joy floods my system. The exception is Game of Thrones, which often leaves me feeling emotionally drained. Yet, despite George R. R. Martin’s relentless character eliminations, I keep returning for more. The narratives are simply too captivating. That’s the level of passion I hope my kids will develop for the art they cherish.
Though I’ve never been into sports, I imagine this is akin to the devotion some have for their favorite teams. Only, this passion involves lightsabers—so clearly superior. The beauty of introducing my children to nerd culture is that it’s a family affair. If my child decides to dress as Luke Skywalker for Halloween, you can bet I’ll be Chewbacca and my partner will don Han Solo’s attire. Nerd culture has become so mainstream that countless family-friendly activities abound—Renaissance fairs, quidditch matches on campus, and even Star Wars-themed days on Disney cruises. What a time to be alive!
At just 4 years old, my oldest is still young for many of the experiences I want to share with him. He gets easily spooked and isn’t quite ready for Voldemort or rancor encounters yet. But that doesn’t mean he’s too young for some geeky fun. He has “Harry Potter pants” adorned with lightning bolts and enjoys watching short clips from the films—especially the quidditch scenes. Not to mention, playing the Hamilton soundtrack on repeat while I cook, clean, or even shower is finally paying off; just the other day, he climbed into bed and serenaded me with his favorite tunes. It melted my heart!
The camaraderie that some families experience when they don their jerseys and paint their faces in team colors is the same sense of togetherness I envision for my family during our annual Harry Potter movie marathon. We’ll dress in our Hogwarts robes and embark on trips to the Wizarding World, proudly sporting our house colors: me in Slytherin, my partner in Gryffindor, and our children—definitely not in Hufflepuff, because no child of mine will bear that title.
As my children grow, they will be surrounded by books, toys, lightsabers, and wands. We will bond over every bit of it as a family of enthusiastic nerds—big, happy nerds.
In summary, this manifesto reflects my hopes and dreams for my children to embrace the joy of geek culture, fostering a sense of belonging and excitement in our family. From fandoms to shared experiences, I look forward to a lifetime of nerdy adventures together.