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[quote=Anonymous]When DS was 7, he announced to us that he wanted to be a paleontologist*. Had his degrees, colleges, and research interest picked out. Thanks, YouTube. We thought it was cute and humored him for about a year and a half because if nothing else, it made gift giving easy. When he hadn't dropped it by that point we decided his obsession was a little unhealthy and backed off. He quietened down a bit but didn't truly stop talking about it until he was 10.

He's now 12. I hadn't heard a word about dinosaurs* for a long while, then my mom let it slip that DS had asked her to to visit a dinosaur museum* this summer and had asked for dinosaur* stuff for his birthday. I casually mentioned it to him afterward, and he said, "Mom, I'm not talking to you about this!" But when I walked off, he was smiling when he thought I couldn't see.

I'm in shock that he's stuck with this for so long. There are no autism concerns; this is not a special interest. He has friends, is social, and does well in school. He just apparently really wants to major in paleontology* at Virginia Tech* then go out to Colorado and dig for T. rex bones*.

I know there are many years between now and college, but I'm torn. Do I lean into this again? He's so young. Or do I encourage him to keep trying new activities that are unrelated? I want to do what's best for him, and I don't know what that is.

*details changed, because the real story is even weirder and recognizable.[/quote]

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