One of my favorite things about being a nerd is that I'm basically a grown-up child. Lots of adults lost that spark of carefree enthusiasm somewhere along the way (which isn't something I judge, because adulthood is exhausting and doesn't always leave time for anything else), but not nerds. Somewhere in them, more prominently, perhaps, than in most people, is a determination to be joyful about something (even if that "something" is practically-speaking unimportant).

That's not to say nerds don't take the subject of their nerdiness seriously. (And some people take it too seriously. Looking at you, Star Wars fans who harassed Kelly Marie Tran until she deleted her Instagram account, you jerks.) But unless they're missing the point of being a nerd entirely, they're approaching at least a part of their life with a childlike sense of fun and joy.

Anyone can be a nerd about anything, but in my experience, people most likely to identify as nerds are the ones whose interest either started in childhood or has a childlike bent to it. For example, fantasy novels, toy collecting, Star Wars, superheroes, My Little Pony. So you can imagine how excited these delightful dweebs are to share their interest, and how excited their kids are to delve in with them.

As soon as they are old enough, they will be first in line to midnight showings of all the Marvel movies (or Disney movies or whatever movies you're into).

I mean this literally and figuratively, depending on a parent's chosen interest. Maybe it's literal toys (which, certainly, will take a fair amount of negotiation as to which of "daddy's or mommy's toys" a kid is allowed to play with) or maybe you're just an audio-visual nerd who has a super cool TV and stereo system. Maybe you're into cos-play and have a room full of supplies that your kid can get creative with. Maybe you're a film buff and have shelves upon shelves of cool movies. In any case, being a nerd often comes with stuff and if there's one thing children love it's stuff.

You can bet that children of nerdy parents are going to be decked out in onesies, t-shirts, dresses, etc with their parents favorite fandoms emblazoned across the front: because everyone needs to know that they must "Snuggle This Muggle!"

Kid's room? Similarly dorky, loaded up with bedsheets and decorations that pay homage to their parent's passion. Of course, as they get older and develop their own taste and interest, they may forgo their parents influence... but, like, not if we can help it? I'm just saying: have you considered the symbolism pervasive throughout Lord of the Rings?!

As adult nerds, we'll understand how much it means when someone shares your interest, especially if it's an interest most people think is weird or somehow beneath them. So nerd parents are going to be encouraging in their children's dorky hobbies and interests. Even if we don't get it ourselves, we'll know that it means something to them, and that makes it important.

I'm not saying all nerds are big readers. I'm just saying the Venn diagram between nerds and book worms has a whole lot of overlap. And speaking from experience, a huge reason I'm a huge reader today (and my partner feels the same) is that I was surrounded by bookshelves as a kid. The love affair started early and it's been a whirlwind ever since.

These qualities are what define someone as a nerd and, ultimately, make someone a great parent. I cannot overstate how far enthusiasm will take you after months of inadequate sleep and a baby chomping on your nipples.

Surely, there is no nerdier holiday that Halloween. It's basically like a nation-wide ComicCon. It's the one day a year nerds can go out into the general population and dork out in full glory. We will absolutely get our kids in on that, too, ideally with a family costume.

(I'm working on convincing my husband and children to go as The Addams Family this year: I can feel I'm getting close to living my best life as Morticia.)

Whether it's sitting down and reading your favorite manga with your new reader, showing them Star Trek for the first time, or waiting until they're old enough to handle Game of Thrones, nerdom has a lot of opportunities for you to share something with your child (and lots of ways to engage even within a single interest). You don't have to be a nerd in order to bond with your child, of course, but it gives you even more ways to do so.

I can't stress enough how important having a strong sense of self is to having a positive parenting experience, and nerds have nothing if not a very strong sense of self. Nerds recognize that their passion is not everyone else's, shrugged and said, "That's OK, I know what I like and it's this."

That sense of "you doing you" is going to help you out in ways both big and small when you're raising a child. Your kid will benefit in seeing someone who is comfortable embracing their passions with their whole heart.