I'm late to this discussion but it is something we have to deal with. My DS10 now clearly see's he is different then other kids.
It hasn't been totally painless but he is good with it.
Last week one of the "Cool" kids called him a nerd. DS's friend tried to stick up for him and DS told him not to worry "I'm totally OK with it" He proclaimed to the group that he was a Nerd and PROUD of it...LOL.
Yesterday ...after putting together a 2000 piece Lego set in 4 hours (16+ age). DS asked me " Mom do you get me?" I said of course I get you...he then said Mom kids don't get me...Do you think Dad gets me?
I said of course dad gets you...
When he was beginning this journey and even now I always tell him I know it hurts and I know this may not matter because it's coming from MOM...But you have 8 more years of not being in the "cool" group, and your cool group has 8 more years of being cool.
I use his father as an example, he is 54 and he wasn't cool for 16 years. But he was very cool when he was top in his college calculus class at 16 ! Now he is a Great Physician and all the old cool guys today think he is the coolest !
So do the Math...do you want to be cool for 8 years or 38 years?
He Gets it. I just continue to be his cheerleader as exhausting as it is.
BTW... He doesn't like the word Dork either he finds it "quite offensive".
