Bookish Ignorance

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I was at a friends house recently when her neighbor stopped by to chat. I couldn't believe some of the things coming out of this girl's mouth. I don't know this neighbor well, but I have met her a few times. I can't say I had a positive impression of her before, and I certainly don't now. I don't want to use her real name, so let's call her Nicole. 

Nicole was telling us about a birthday party he just threw for her son. He is young, between 8 and 10. Some of the gifts he received from his friends were a book, one of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, and also a comic book store gift card. Since it is so close to Christmas, she is making him keep all his gifts under the tree until then. (I honestly don't know why someone would do this since a birthday and Christmas are two separate occasions, but whatever.) This is where the conversation turned ugly. Nicole caught her son digging through his gifts under the tree early. When she told him he couldn't play with his toys yet, he said "oh, don't worry Mom, I'm just getting my book!" I guess her son is quite the reader even at such a young age. He prefers to read over most other things and I was happy to hear he was going for the book and not the toys. This always makes me feel good since I am such a book nut myself. 

Unfortunately, Nicole doesn't think this is such a great thing. What followed was a twenty minute rant about what a nerd her son is because he was reading his book and because he likes to come home from school, get comfortable in the chair with a blanket and read. She had nothing positive to say about her "nerd" son and his reading habits. From there, she then went on another rant about a friend or family member of hers who is a teacher. Since he teaches in a somewhat low income neighborhood, he buys comic books for his students with his own money. "What a waste of money! Who does that? What a nerd!" is all she kept saying. She also through in some jabs about comic books and how stupid they are and how she reads "real books". I have to admit that I never cared for comics and still really have no interest in them. But since meeting my husband, I have come to see they aren't what some people say they are: trash. 

My husband is an artist and it has always been his dream to publish his own comic books. Over the last few years, he has been able to do just that. While they aren't huge like Spiderman or Superman, he loves creating them and isn't in it to get rich. He just has a passion for it. I have seen how much work gets put into each issue and I understand now that there is a lot more to comics then just the cartoons. 

I was at a loss for words during this conversation. I couldn't believe my ears. When did it become unacceptable to read for pleasure? What kind of parent would pick on their child for having a love of books? That is such a wonderful gift, I just can't imagine it. My son loves to read, but my daughter doesn't really care for it. She reads everyday at school and every night with her brother, which I love listening to. But she doesn't care to read alone at home. I still buy her tons of books though, just hoping that I will one day bring home that one book that changes her mind. I know it is out there, I just need to find it. 

What would you have said to Nicole? Have you ever met anyone like this? All I can say is that I hope her son never loses his passion for books and that one day she will realize her mistake. With everything wrong in this world and the bullying that goes on at school, I just can't imagine that a parent would want to tease their child for something so wonderful. Please tell me I am not alone in feeling this way.