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I’m Weird and Weird is a Good Thing.
“Why are you so weird, mom?” My son was nine and the question was legitimate.
I had belly danced his entire life even while he was in my womb, and I knew the day would come when he looked around and noticed that none of the other moms belly danced.
That day had come and just to make sure, I asked him if I was weird because I belly danced and he verified that was the issue here. So then I asked, “Would it make you feel better if I stopped dancing?”
“Oh no! You love it too much!”
It was one of those endearing moments of parenthood. He was just curious and that was all. Plus he totally understood that I was passionate about belly dance.
I went on to explain that weird just meant different and that it was good to be different. It makes people more interesting and that each of us is different from everyone else so each of us is a bit weird.
He was happy and went off to play.
Two years later he was riding in the back seat of my car with his friend and I overheard him say, “Weird just means different and I just happen to have a lot of weirdness.”
Another endearing parenting moment, that moment when you realize that your kid does hear you and he even shares your wisdom with others.