Why is Being A Geek Still Not Cool?

When I was in school, people picked at me for being smart. No one and I mean no one in elementary school wanted to be labeled a Nerd, because that was lower on the social totem pole than the kid with perpetual bladder issues, dried boogers and shit.

I managed to survive middle school because I loved to play basketball more than I loved books. My friends from the courts got to see a different side of me because I was "the girl that could ball."

Now that I'm raising a rising 6th grade genius, I'm forced to accept the fact that not much has changed. My Deuce da Don, the infamous clone #2, is terrified of being labeled a Nerd at school.

It got me thinking about what middle school could have been like for me, had I not had the fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on which story I tell) distinction of being "Nikki's little sister" or "Leon's cousin". I saw the kids who weren't able to move as effortlessly between the two groups; I befriended them but I certainly didn't envy them.

Kids can be hella cruel. I guess our social training needs a little more structure (but I digress). My brain was inundated with a tsunami of questions as I strolled down middle school memory lane.

Why do we place value on not succeeding? Why has it been cool to not be smart? Where did it begin? Do parents play a role? I could go on but I wanna keep this short...

After swimming through my thoughts I marooned on this conclusion...the little girls are the key.

The power of the doubled X chromosomes makes it's debut in the spring of 5th grade!

I have witnessed my often smelly (what is it about boys and hygiene) preteen who still cried when it was time to get a hair cut, actually request I iron his shirt and give me the sad face and beg not to just get an edgeup this time, and this is a different kid than the one who told me Happy New Year 6 months ago.

What was the catalyst for this change? Was it my countless lectures and repeating of my mantra "Personal hygene is about you!"?

HELL NAW!!! (you see my North Carolina coming out?)

It was pheromones!

This spring I've watched my son start to notice girls. It started in March when the pretty little chocolate girl who always wears the cutest skirts that lives in our complex stopped by. Before she turned to walk away when I told her Deuce wasn't home, she requested I let him know she had done so. This metamorphosis has blossomed into full blown open nose season when on the last day of school, while all decked out in his bowtie and Durango boots (ikr-you know his stylish mom was proud as hell) he ditched me twice (once at the bus stop and then after graduation) for that same little girl.

See what I mean? Right before my eyes...

I feel that if we went on a campaign teaching young girls that being smart was sexy, nerds wouldn't be socially ostracisized anymore. I'll keep my fingers crossed with the hope that there will be some teenage heartthrob that will equally excel academically and not be ashamed of it...one can dream right? Martin had his, this is mine!

Even though I know that change won't happen before Deuce starts the 6th grade, I don't worry about him because he will come to be known as "Trey's little brother" and "Ty's cousin" so he'll be just fine. I just hope he befriends his fellow brotheren, just as I did; they will always make him feel cool.

It's funny how history really does repeat itself.

...Hate It or Love It; Either Way You Felt Somethin'