Mathematical Genius

If you take as a definition of genius "the ability to see things in a way that others do not," then my son Zeke might just qualify.

Yesterday, he was doing his story problems. The worksheet directed him to draw a picture of what happened when Shawn put 5 glasses on the table and his father put two more. Zeke's drawing skills are developing, but I couldn't make out what he was drawing, yet remained silent. Jubilantly, he said "Seven" and then I noticed he had drawn eyeglasses. All along, I was envisioning drinking glasses.

Today, he was practicing his doubles [1+1, 2+2, 3+3, etc.] and he got stuck on the doubles past 5. He was frustrated and on the brink of tears. I told him, "Honey, this is just straight memorization." He wailed back, "No, Mama! I can't do it! This is wiggeldy memorization!"

After I regained my composure, we continued the lesson.