Life paths
Small Boy got an 89 in "Culinary Arts" last term. He isn't sure why - he likes cooking and participates actively. He wonders if it is because of field-trip related absences. He wants to ask but doesn't want to be "that kid". Except he is worried about not getting into MIT because of it.
He went to a day-long science thing at UMass/Amherst last weekend and says that he is thinking he could be okay doing science there. He'd like being one of the star pupils. He is scared to compete with intellects brighter than him, he likes being at a high school where he is the top tier. I am encouraging him to try it, though. I really benefitted from my time at Mount Holyoke College, and now, as an employer, I totally understand the short-hand way we use "Harvard grad" to mean "pre-qualified to show drive and initiative and stamina". I used to think it meant "smart". Now I know it means "smart and organized".
Small Boy and I went on a quick shopping trip yesterday when he got off the bus. He needed a few clothing items for his trip on Thursday. While in the department store he asked if I would buy him a black suit jacket. His old one is too small. I started to object that we should look in his brother's outgrown clothes first, and then realized that we didn't buy Eldest Son suits until he was 18. Small Boy dresses professionally on a semi-regular basis at the age of 15. Okay then. Not on this trip, but when tax season is over I will buy him better clothes.
He went to a day-long science thing at UMass/Amherst last weekend and says that he is thinking he could be okay doing science there. He'd like being one of the star pupils. He is scared to compete with intellects brighter than him, he likes being at a high school where he is the top tier. I am encouraging him to try it, though. I really benefitted from my time at Mount Holyoke College, and now, as an employer, I totally understand the short-hand way we use "Harvard grad" to mean "pre-qualified to show drive and initiative and stamina". I used to think it meant "smart". Now I know it means "smart and organized".
Small Boy and I went on a quick shopping trip yesterday when he got off the bus. He needed a few clothing items for his trip on Thursday. While in the department store he asked if I would buy him a black suit jacket. His old one is too small. I started to object that we should look in his brother's outgrown clothes first, and then realized that we didn't buy Eldest Son suits until he was 18. Small Boy dresses professionally on a semi-regular basis at the age of 15. Okay then. Not on this trip, but when tax season is over I will buy him better clothes.