It's easy for this most independently minded parent to be pulled into the mainstream muck-- finding the "right" school, the "right" toys, the "right" activities.
Which is why I keep this quote in mind.
In a 2003 interview, Tim Burton had this to say about his hopes for soon-to-be-born baby boy.
''I just hope he's not popular,'' he said.
''At my 10-year high-school reunion, all the popular people, the good students, turned out to be unappealing.
The so-called misfits all turned out to be attractive.
So if you have a child, you should almost hope they're not popular in high school.
You were beaten up today? Well, that's not such a bad idea. You don't like talking to anybody? You like sitting in your room alone?
Well, we have nothing but hope for you.''
