INCOHERENT SQUEALING was pretty much all that could be heard when I opened up the birthday gifts from my parents to find every fangirl's dream: merchandise. Specifically, for my 21st birthday, my parents got me Supernatural pants, a Supernatural hat, a Supernatural cloth poster, a Supernatural COLORING BOOK, NCIS DVDs for seasons 12 and 13, as well as a Harry Potter tank top. All just in time for the Supernatural season premiere the day after my birthday.

OH. MY. GOD. It was nerd heaven.

Some parents may discourage or mock the...mild obsessions of their children. I am so blessed that my parents do not do that and in fact actively encourage the nerd I am to enjoy these shows or movies. Every Christmas since I started watching Doctor Who has been a TARDIS blue Christmas (the best kind of blue Christmas). If possible, Harry Potter birthdays and NCIS Easter baskets. In the past year or so, Supernatural has been added to the mix.

Harry Potter was the first fandom I joined. It is what got me through adolescent struggles, I took part in the great Harry Potter versus Twilight fandom wars of the late 2000's. Much like Harry says, Hogwarts is my home. So it's no surprise but an absolute joy to get gifts related to it. Most recently, the tank top they got is a lovely Gryffindor themed one that I can now legally wear to bars (because the nerd is strong with this one)! Between fan merchandise like your average shirts and items to make you look like a Hogwarts student, my parents have kept this lady in the most fashionable nerd styles.

As NCIS served as a bonding point for us, especially when I was away at college, Tuesday nights when the show airs are sacred. While I was at the college, I made sure that for most Tuesdays, we could Facetime and watch the show together...even though there was a three minute delay on my end. So, the NCIS gifts have been welcome and great to watch all over again when I am actually next to my family.

My cousin got me into Doctor Who right before I started college and the first posters my parents sent were based on the show. Hall mates who saw these posters ended up being some of my first friends at college. Then, I got other friends into the show with me and we all bonded over it. As Doctor Who is such a popular show, a lot of merchandise is made every year which makes for pretty easy gift-giving for my parents. Anything Doctor Who related and I am one happy nerd. Blankets, necklaces, tees, the works. Cue the fangirl squeals!

They don't just grab me random merchandise, they will listen to me sob/laugh over fandom related theories and jokes. They're cool with me retreating to my room for new episodes of the shows they don't watch with me or watching an episode or two with me freaking out the whole time. It is an honor to have such supportive parents in all things I do. College, goals, everything. My nerd stuff is somewhat more important to me than the rest because while I needed college and goals to do well financially, nerdy stuff is what brings me happiness and has helped foster so many of my friendships. For my parents to support that huge part of me, means everything to me and I could not be more grateful.