Wyatts New Obsession

Wyatt has always been a very focused kid. The focus of his obsessions can (and have been) anything from toys, books, people or places. When he finds something that he is interested in, he is "all in".

He will find anything and everything that is even remotely connected to said obsession and devour it.

This has been the case from the very beginning.

As a baby (9-12 months) he had a favorite book, Are You My Mother. He LOVED this book! I remember him sitting on my lap and reading it to him. When the story was over, and the book was closed, he would open it back up and fuss until it was read again, and again and again.

At the tender age of 2, Wyatt received his first train track for his birthday. This seemed innocent enough...until Thomas was discovered. Over the course of the next 5 years...yes, 5 years, Thomas became Wyatt's obsession.

I liked Thomas too, don't get me wrong, he is a cute, cheeky little train with a touch of an attitude at times. Thomas, in my opinion, is responsible for most of Wyatt's early learning. Thanks to Thomas and his friends, Wyatt learned his numbers, letters, colors and opposites. He also learned to read on Thomas. Wyatt learned how to stretch his imagination by building amazingly intricate train tracks, complete with round-houses, engine sheds, tunnels and bridges.

Thomas eventually gave way (but not put away) to dinosaurs.

This, I expected, what kid doesn't think these prehistoric animals are the coolest things ever??? What I wasn't necessarily expecting was the intensity at which Wyatt was learning about them. He has/had books, toys, posters, stickers, games - yes even dinosaur teeth. He literally taught himself about the dynamics of Earths history, evolution and animal interaction through this stage of his life.

Now, at 8, Wyatt has a new focus for his obsession...Pokemon.

Pokemon, really??? This has got to be the strangest thing ever. It is probably because I don't even come close to understanding any of it, let alone enough to interact with him about it. When he speaks of his Pokemon, it is like he is speaking a totally different language, and not one that I am in a hurry to learn.

At first, this new obsession seemed completely pointless to me. What was there for him to gain from learning all there is about some Japanese cartoon character and "battling" them???

Thomas taught him most of his preschool requirements, dinosaurs opened his eyes to the way things were forever ago...what is Pokemon teaching him?

It all seemed like a waste of time and money, until...we began to notice that Wyatt is building valuable social skills with the assistance of his vast Pokemon collection. Wyatt is playing with new kids, he is learning that while Pokemon is fun for them, they also have other things in common.

So...we will, as we always do, support this new obsession to our fullest capacity. We will embrace Pikachu, Meowtow, Ash, Dawn and the whole myriad of Pokemon and their trainers into our homes for as long as Wyatt desires to have them there.

That is what we do...we, as parents support our children and their interests...even if we have NO idea what they are talking about.