Sunday, May 11, 2008
Little minds, big thoughts
Again, we're in the car driving to school. B says, "Mom, I've got a question. I've been thinking about this for a while." Immediately I think "this is going to be good!" and very cheerfully I say, "Let's hear it!" He has wondered what happens to a bug when it's flying beside a freight car that's moving along the tracks. If the bug flies in the car, does it have to keep flying? I asked him if the bug landed in the freight car. He said no. Then I said, yes, it has to keep flying. I explained that (using my hands to make my point) if the bug stopped flying the freight car would move right along and the bug would slam into the back of the freight car. I also told him that if the bug landed inside the freight car, it would be like a passenger and the freight car would carry it along. He understood and seemed to be satisfied that I answered his question. But I thought about this all day...what kind of little mind comes up with this stuff? I'm not saying he's a genius, all I'm wondering is what type of hobbies or career will he choose based on his very methodical mind. Every day is interesting with him and every day something funny or completely off the wall comes out of his mouth! I am soooo tempted to find books or activities to show him or teach him. I know he would love it, but I am a little concerned that he will get bored in school if we already cover this stuff at home. Because if I cross the line of introducing this stuff to him myself, I will end up jumping as high and far over that line as possible...that's my personality. When I focus on something, I become obnoxiously involved! I just want to feed that little mind and see what big thoughts he gets! What a great adventure motherhood is.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I think he's a genius, personally.
My feeling on school, which may change as my kids enter school, but is based on a graduate of the PU school of education... is that school should be considered supplemental instruction, and life is the real teacher - not the other way around. In other words, you should see school as scaffolding and enhancing the things you are teaching him outside of school. You don't supplement what he learns there, you (and life, in general) are his greatest teacher.
If you frame it that way, then you should certainly be feeding his little head. Have you ever taken him to the Imagination Station downtown? Somewhere around here I have the schedule, and I can tell you when it's open for what ages, and what they're doing, if you like.
I plan to be the type of parent who gets in trouble with the school for pulling my kids out for a month to backpack across Europe or hike the Appalachian trail. They will learn more from those experiences than they'll ever learn in a stuffy old classroom, and I am more than capable of teaching them long division, you know? Let the school teach him the boring stuff. YOU get to give his mind wings. It's your duty and privilege as a mother.
Happy mother's day, by the way!!
Hugs,
Amy
Had to come back and remember what I said about B and school! LOL
Good on you, Mom! Good on you!
Have a great weekend,
Amy
Post a Comment