RAM

I have never harbored any secret wish that Riley be a gifted child. I hope he loves to read and that he's better at math than I am (he'd have to practically be a blind canary pecking wildly at an abacus to be any worse) and most of all that he's a good communicator—because I believe the ability to expertly communicate with other people is what really makes the difference in your life and career, way more than any other learned skill—but really, I have no fervent desire to see him skip grades, win chess tournaments, or go to college at the age of 14.

So I hope you don't think I'm bragging when I tell you that HOLY GOD MY KID IS A GENIUS CALL MENSA RIGHT NOW.

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but Riley is seriously blowing my mind lately with the things he can remember. He can recite the contents of most of his favorite books, page by page. Even the tongue-twisting Dr. Seuss shit. He knows all the lyrics to "On Top of Spaghetti", which is more than I can say for his father (JB: "Uh, all covered with . . . uh, line?" Me: "CHEESE, DAMMIT."), and he pre-announces each Maisy segment after only one viewing ("Boats, Mommy! Dis one with da boats!").

It's sort of amazing to see how his little brain just soaks up information all day long, he's aware of so much more than I give him credit for.

Then again, he still predictably whacks the bejesus out of his head on the dining room table every single time he crawls under it to retrieve a toy, so . . . okay, let's hold off on that Mensa call. FOR NOW.

Comments

[NM]

wow! I am first, for the first time ever!!! Just chiming in to say Riley does sound like a genius.i do say that for my 2.5 old too, but then realise, if he truly was a genius, he would hv learnt to sleep thru the night and potty-train by now.

[Mandie]

I'm always amazed at what they can recall, not just lyrics and verses, but events from months and MONTHS ago. I always feel I should be teaching him shakespeare or something if he's soaking it up this well.

Then I remember they have WAY less crap to remember than we do. No phone numbers, countless random names, addresses, e-mail, web sites, complicated maneuvers (driving a car), etc, etc. All they have to do is walk and talk, eat and sleep, run and play, and remember any little thing that interests them. It's great. I, on the other hand, forget a little more about algebra every time I meet someone new and have to remember a name. :)

[Leslie]

When I was three, I could recite all the states and capitals in alphabetical order. Can I do that now? Uh, no. Although I do maintain a secret affection for Little Rock because at three, that's the only capital city that's not just a mass of syllables.

[Jennifer]

Thanks for this post. I have no kids, so I read your parenting escapades with fascination. This is the part of "no kids" that I most regret. Watching the hungry little brain gain knowledge, and observing the acceleration as he gets into the high gear of reading and speaking!

Does "RAM" equal: "random access memory...?" :-) I spy some geek-speak!

[Laura McIntyre]

Sounds like you have a smarty pants on your hands there

[Joanne]

I think he does sound super verbal and smart, I'm a little jealous!

[Dawn]

The kid is a genius!
Okay and what is up with Noggin not having any Maisy on lately? My two and a half year old is also obsessed with that damn mouse and I (being the intelligent mother I am) deleted all the episodes we had recorded. I thought we would record some new ones, because I was going to have to stab myself in the ear with an ice pick if I had to listen to Maisy climb the mountain or ride in the hot air balloon one more time.

[Linda S.]

Dawn: OH MY GOD I KNOW, where has Maisy gone? WHY, Noggin, WHY? You are KILLING ME HERE. I actually bought a Maisy DVD to help fill the void, but sadly learned that DVDs = MAISY & CO. SONGS. You don't want to hear Charlie sing, is all I'm saying.

[Dawn]

Maisy DVD's? Please point me in that direction, I have had success finding books but no DVD's. The singing thing scares me a bit but I am willing to take that risk if it means the whining will stop, please just make it stop.
Also what sort of drugs were involved in the creating of the whole Maisy and friends because well, yeah...