astriiformes:

what is up my folks, i am still thinking about how yesterday my sister & her friend really excitedly talked to me about some of their interests, even things they said their parents have expressed some disapproval of (not because they’re inherently bad, but because they’re out of touch and overbearing) and what a gift that is. i remember being that age and being so scared to talk to other people and especially adults about the things i loved, so that’s a lot of trust on their part!

did i understand everything they were telling me about? absolutely not. i have never even heard i half of the animes they like and was learning about weird niche corners of youtubers that i didn’t even know existed. i was out of touch too. but i told them both i really liked their art and mentioned specific things they were both very good at drawing, and asked them some questions about the things they were gushing about and made it clear that i thought it was very neat that they were interested in them, and offered them some cosplay tips for their halloween costumes as they bemoaned having 8th grader budgets despite having no idea who these characters they want to dress as are — because i would have killed for someone so much older than me to say those things when i was their age! they were being brave sharing those things with me! it was the least i could do!

and idk, just, be nice to kids guys. make them feel like they’re cool for being interested in stuff. they’re putting a lot out there if they tell you about the things they like. acknowledge that