My grandson has been obsessed with dinosaurs since he was two years old. He knows every name, in Greek and Latin terms, and every tiny description and fact about dinosaurs. He has a robotic T-Rex, and scores of triceratops, Diplodocus, and velociraptors, sitting on his shelves in his bedroom. He reads encyclopedias of dinosaurs and watches every movie ever made about them. He is infatuated with these extinct creatures.
For his birthday, my grandson’s parents took him to the Field Museum to see the exhibit that housed the famous T-Rex, Sue. They spent the night at the museum, sleeping amongst the dinosaurs in their sleeping bags. My grandson met with other kids who were also enamored with dinos and they ran and giggled as the huge beasts watched. He was in heaven.
I do not remember ever being so besotted with any one thing in the same way my grandson is smitten with dinosaurs. I know my son loved choo-choo trains when he was little, and then he liked fire engines, Lego’s, Nintendo, and… However, my grandson does not seem to be willing to leave the dinosaur craze behind him. He has become interested in Godzilla, but it is only a made up creature similar to a dinosaur. Oh, and he likes Lego’s now, but he made me buy the new dinosaur collection.
A friend of mine insinuated that maybe there was something wrong with my grandson’s fanatical love of dinosaurs. However, I do not agree. I think it is great that he is able to stick with one thing and really study it. His preoccupation keeps him entertained and using his imagination. What could be so bad with that?
Who knows? Maybe he will grow up to be a scientist, zoologist, or a paleontologist. Possibly, with his skill and passion for looking in-depth at things, he could find a cure for cancer or unearth answers to world problems. Or else, he could become an awesome Dad who can have interesting conversations with his own son about dinosaurs. Whatever he does with his life, I am sure that he will do it with zeal and curiosity, and I will be extremely proud of him.
Do you know any children who are obsessed with something? Feel free to share your story.
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