Help! Is my kid normal?

It’s a question we all ask ourselves at times: Should I be worried? Here, we want to crowd-source the answer to those questions. So, help!

My youngest son is totally obsessed with weapons, fighting, superheroes and Star Wars.

All he wants to talk about are the characters and every trip to the park (or anywhere) is simply a chance to collect new weapons. Sticks mostly. Sometimes medium sized branches.

We always have to have a lengthy negotiation about how many we can bring home in the car. His ‘weapons’ are never actually used to harm anyone (or the dog) but simply part of his very elaborate imaginary games where he is some goodie or other and fighting some battle or other.

My eldest son was not like this. And my daughter is, well, she’s more interested in drawing. Most of my girlfriends have daughters.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? I was always the one who was going to raise a peace-loving child.

So, help. Is this normal? Should I be discouraging it? Will it pass? Should I just ignore it?