NERDS

by Michael Buckley

2009

As a parent, I want to know what my kids are being fed.

And I’m not referring to food.

Rather, what are their sources of influence?

As a result, my hubby and I keep a close watch on content.

What’s in the TV shows and movies they watch?

What’s in the computer games they play?

What’s in the books and magazines they read?

As attentive parents, we want to be sure that all their choices are age appropriate. What might work for Son #1, who’s 10, might not work for Son #2, who’s 6.

And we hold the right to veto.

(Veto decisions are not always popular, but age is always a worthy scapegoat.)

As Christian parents, however, we take this screening process, and our right to veto, a step further:

We also watch for “Light Content”.

Light Content?

Basically,

Does the movie, computer game, book, etc. honour God’s Word, and thus influence my children for light?

Or, does it shun His Word, and thus influence my children for darkness?

Jesus says in John 8:12,

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

And in Matthew 12:30,

“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

As you can imagine, our desire for Light Content doesn’t always make us very popular on the homefront.

However, God has given us the gift of raising our kids and we want to do it in a way that glorifies Him. 

Even if our popularity goes down in the polls.

All of that to say this:

When Son #1 discovered a new series of books that he couldn’t put down, couldn’t stop talking about, and used successfully to reduce Son #2 to tears, I figured I’d better read at least one.

NERDS.

National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society.

A series of books about unlikely pre-teen super spies sent out to save the world from an even more unlikely bunch of evil genius super villains.

And my son loves them. 

Sigh.

So, I read book #1.

There’s truly not much about this book that a ten year old boy wouldn’t like.

School lockers leading to spy headquarters.

Braces spewing out of mouths as the ultimate weaponry.

Nerds saving the world from complete and utter destruction.

A feast for boyhood imagination.

I am quite certain I will only be reading the first of the series, but my son has devoured all the others:

Book #2: M is for Mama’s Boy

Book #3: The Cheerleaders of Doom

Book #4: The Villain Virus

Imagine his delight when I told him Hollywood is making a NERDS movie. Let’s just hope it’s high in Light Content.

Reading on...