How many of you can relate: you are busy cleaning or working around the house and suddenly you hear screaming coming from the other room. You rush in to save your daughter from what no doubt is an utter catastrophe only to find her hopping around, covering her mouth, making inaudble screams and gasps. No, my daughter is not crazy, people, she is just fangirling.  It can happen at any moment without warning. One minute we are strolling through the comic book store and the next she's jumping up and down, face turning red, yelping in happiness that she's found the cutest chibi or another manga to add to her collection.  My sweet, darling little fangirl, oh how I love you!

 

Honestly, as far out or irrational as it may seem to others that my daughter is absolutely, fly-to-the-moon happy over a fictional character, it doesn't bother me one bit. I love the fact that she is passionate about something, that she carries her emotions on her sleeve for me to see and interact with, and let's be honest, what teen isn't crazy with emotions? Truth be told, I'd rather my daughter obsess over a fictional anime character than over the boy next door. I seriously doubt a shirtless, pink-haired guy with impressive fire dragon powers is going to come into her class and sweep her off her feet. I feel completely safe with her fangirling. 

 

I am not saying that I don't monitor what she's doing.  Of course, I am a mother and its my job to look out for her to make sure her fangirl ways don't go too far, but I love that she's always got her head in a manga. I love that she shares her fanfiction with me. In fact, she's becoming quite a writer! Best of all, she goes out of her way to make me a part of her fangirl world. So yes, when birthdays and the holidays roll around, rest assure, I will be hitting up Amazon for her chibis or figmas or art supplies. When she comes to me smiling with her latest drawing or fanfic, I will welcome it. When she comes to me balling her eyes out that her beloved Heishi is near death, I will be there with open arms. 

 

So if you are out and about, and you see a young girl screaming like a maniac in happiness over some fictional character, please keep in mind: she's not crazy, she's just fangirling.