Jerry worked in downtown San Francisco on Friday, so he dropped Landry, Kipp and me at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley. As I've mentioned before, the boys take classes there during the school year. However, Bay Area traffic is just horrendous, so I have to drag them away from the exhibits to start our long commute home.
Now, my boys have always had unusual energy and intensity. I think it runs in my family. They have a certain electricity about them that just makes them stand out in a crowd. Indeed, I've come home from more than one trip to Costco almost ready to cry thanks to that electricity. And the last month of homeschooling was really frustrating for me. And it seemed they were set on using that energy to thwart every attempt to educate them.
Friday, however, I had the chance to see what incredible young men they will become. Neither was rude or obnoxious. However, that boundless energy and intense curiosity found its proper place. For six hours, the boys literally ran from exhibit to exhibit and back again, utterly delighted to figure out whatever principles were at work. I kept thinking they would wear out or become bored. They did not. Indeed, when Jerry arrived for the last hour, they were completely delighted to give him a tour and explain everything to him. And the extent of their understanding of scientific principles surprised even me.
So, their intensity may drive me almost to tears some days, but today I can say that it isn't something I would change if I could. I can see that that same intensity and passion is going to make them amazing young men some day.
Now, let's just hope my sanity survives intact to see it.
Now, my boys have always had unusual energy and intensity. I think it runs in my family. They have a certain electricity about them that just makes them stand out in a crowd. Indeed, I've come home from more than one trip to Costco almost ready to cry thanks to that electricity. And the last month of homeschooling was really frustrating for me. And it seemed they were set on using that energy to thwart every attempt to educate them.
Friday, however, I had the chance to see what incredible young men they will become. Neither was rude or obnoxious. However, that boundless energy and intense curiosity found its proper place. For six hours, the boys literally ran from exhibit to exhibit and back again, utterly delighted to figure out whatever principles were at work. I kept thinking they would wear out or become bored. They did not. Indeed, when Jerry arrived for the last hour, they were completely delighted to give him a tour and explain everything to him. And the extent of their understanding of scientific principles surprised even me.
So, their intensity may drive me almost to tears some days, but today I can say that it isn't something I would change if I could. I can see that that same intensity and passion is going to make them amazing young men some day.
Now, let's just hope my sanity survives intact to see it.
Ah, yes...the intensity. Blessing or curse? Some days it is so hard to keep the long term benefits of that stock pile of energy in mind. I'm glad you had a chance to appreciate it this week. :-)
Oh yeah,..the intensities...I am not sure if it gets better with growth. I have not seen it happen yet in my household of all intense people! Glad you have had the chance to witness the positive side of it though...LHS does have that kind of mental feed for the kids...:))
Enjoy your summer!
Subadra
I was very drawn by the title of your post on my sidebar blogroll and read the whole post with a huge smile. So...I am not the only one who wants to cry after a run to the grocery store? Thank goodness LOL! Glad they loved it Annie. We still haven't had a chance to go to LHS yet but hope to some day :) I think next year's Mothers' Day, I'm going to ask the hubby for this :)
I love these comments. Do you remember the Peanuts comic strip with Pigpen, the little boy with the dust cloud always surrounding him? I tell people that is my life with three little boys orbiting constantly, but the comic strip is much quieter than my life. :)
In my more exhausted moments, I wonder what I could be doing wrong. But your comments and days like Friday remind me that these boys came hardwired. I can't change that energy. I might be able to help them channel it, but that is about it. (And they do have good manners!) More importantly, the day they choose to turn that intensity on a project or idea, they will be unstoppable, and they will be happy. And I wouldn't take that from them for anything.
But it's so nice to know I'm not the only one who would like a quiet, uneventful trip for groceries. :)