Promoting geekiness

My three year old son is obsessed with baseball. First it was trucks. Then tools. Now baseball.

His obsession plays itself out in several ways. It's not just about playing the game, you see. But also looking the part. The shirt and hat is easy. It's the socks that are a challenge.

I don't know if you've examined a baseball uniform lately, but they wear their socks high. So my son is always trying to pull his socks up to his knees, which is a challenge. Yesterday afternoon, while trying to get my boys in the car after attending a little league baseball game, my son kept sitting down in the grass to pull up his socks again. We'd wlk a few steps and I'd turn around and he'd be on the ground again. Pulling up his socks. I was getting impatient, ready to snap (forget the friggin socks already!! You look like a geek!) but I held my tongue.

A few days before, I overheard my babysitter talking to Ethan on the couch. He was begging her to pull up his socks.

"What? You'll look like a geek," she said.

I came in and explained to her the meaning of the socks. He added, "Yes, so I can look like a real baseball player."

"Oh," she said. "Of course! Let me get those for you."

Fortuantely, my son does not yet know what Geek means. I'm sure he will find out soon enough, but for now, I want to cherish and nourish his geekiness and quirkiness for all it's worth, before it passes. I even picked up a ten pack of longer socks at Old Navy. He will be thrilled.