During my first pregnancy, my aunt thoughtfully sent me care packages every trimester, filled with delightful surprises for both me and my baby. When I opened the first box, my excitement peaked as I discovered a tiny onesie emblazoned with the word “Muggle.” It was absolutely perfect, considering my deep-rooted love for all things nerdy.
I proudly identify as a fangirl, a title I inherited from my father and his father before him (well, not really). My fandoms include Harry Potter, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and Lord of the Rings, among others. While some families bond over sports teams or universities, our household embraces the expectation that our children will belt out original Broadway cast recordings and immerse themselves in the world of “The Boy Who Lived.”
My children are destined to be nerds, and they will embrace their passions with the kind of enthusiasm that only a true fan can possess. While other parents may anticipate tee-ball games or teaching their kids to ride bikes, I’m eagerly awaiting our first movie marathon 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 typically don’t appeal to me. They seem overly complicated, costly, and involve too much glitter and glue. Instead, I prefer simple gatherings at indoor facilities where kids can run wild, munch on pizza, and devour cake without the hassle. However, when my children turn 11, I plan to go all out—think Hogwarts letters, lightning bolt decorations, and homemade butterbeer.
And what if my kids don’t want to dive into Harry Potter or Star Wars? Are you trying to make me cry? They can enjoy other interests, but why would they choose anything else? The best experiences are right here waiting for them, especially since most of these beloved franchises have been transformed into Lego video games!
Every time I indulge in these stories, whether through books, films, or music, my happiness levels soar—except for Game of Thrones. That series often leaves me feeling emotionally drained. Yet, even as George R. R. Martin mercilessly eliminates beloved characters, I remain hooked because the narratives are simply too compelling. This is the kind of passion I want my children to develop for the art they cherish.
While I have no interest in sports, I can draw parallels between my fandom and the fervor many feel for their favorite teams—just with lightsabers and magic wands, which is obviously far superior. One of the wonderful aspects of sharing my nerdy passions with my kids is that it fosters family bonding. If my child wants 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 is so mainstream now that there are countless family-friendly activities to partake in—Renaissance fairs, college quidditch matches, and even Star Wars days on Disney cruises!
My eldest child, currently 4 years old, is still a bit young for some of the content I hope to share. He gets scared easily and isn’t ready for the darker elements of these stories. However, he isn’t too young for all things nerdy. He proudly wears his lightning bolt pants, which he affectionately calls his Harry Potter pants, and he enjoys watching snippets from the films, especially if quidditch is involved. Plus, having the Hamilton soundtrack playing on repeat has paid off; just the other morning, he climbed into bed and serenaded me with his favorite tunes. It melted my heart.
The connection that some families feel while cheering for their sports teams and painting their faces in team colors is the same connection 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 displaying our house colors. I’ll represent Slytherin, my partner will be in Gryffindor, and my kids can choose anything but Hufflepuff—no child of mine will ever be a Hufflepuff!
As my children grow, there will be countless books, toys, lightsabers, and wands in our home. We will bond over our shared interests as a family of proud nerds. Joyful, enthusiastic nerds.
In summary, this article explores how a parent’s passion for fandom can be joyfully passed down to their children, emphasizing the importance of shared interests and family bonding through the lens of geek culture.
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