Not that I’m bragging…oh wait, yes I am!

My kids are smart. Oh, they’re not geniuses by any means, and I don’t think I’d want them to be. True genius seems to carry with it certain social problems that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

No they’re just run-of-the-mill smart. Just smart enough to get them into trouble . . . too smart for their own goods.

In fact, they’ve both gotten themselves into trouble recently because they’re too smart.

M’s not listening and not following directions at school stems from her ability to think independently. She can reason and draw logical conclusions, which don’t always jive with the school’s rules. As she gets older, she’ll learn that sometimes, even though the rules don’t make sense, we still need to follow them. Although I believe that it is smart to question rules from time to time, I don’t think it’s appropriate for a Kindergartner to question the rules. I hope that she never stops questioning rules that she doesn’t agree with. That’s the kind of thinking that brings about change. Where would we be without people who question rules . . . without Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Gloria Steinum, etcetera?

It’s probably better to focus on the good side of her independence, right?

K’s intelligence has caused him problems lately because he’s refusing to share what he knows. His preschool teacher, and for a while, I, was convinced that he didn’t know his colors, nor any letters of the alphabet. It turns out, (which I discovered through experimenting) that he just doesn’t respond on cue. I think he senses that it’s important to us that he regurgitates his knowledge for us so he’s intent on NOT doing it. But when his guard is down and no one is actively questioning him, he’ll comment on the color of something, or point out a random letter someplace.

My kids are not only so-called “book smart” they are also socially savvy. They do not get this from me. Their dad is a social guy. He can talk to anyone, anywhere. Not I.

My daughter has, from the moment she could engage with another person, been exceedingly social. She offered drinks when friends came to our house even when she was only three years old. She approaches kids at the playground and asks to play too and within seconds they are friends. She sees another child crying and moves to pat her back and ask what’s wrong.

My son, at 3 ½, is also showing his social skills. He doesn’t hesitate to ask another child if he can play with him at preschool. He says “please” and “thank you” often without prompting. He greets people with a smile and a “hello.”



My kids are creative, independent, loving, imaginitive, intelligent. Is it any wonder that I'm having another one?



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I bet your kids are almost as brilliant as mine…so tell me about them…and tell them at the Parent Bloggers Network. They’re giving away some nifty prizes again this week.