Oh Crap, My Son's a Genius

So I know this shouldn't be a bad thing right, but let me give you the context. So I am trying to get Wyatt into preshool for next year, really pre-k but the subtle difference is missed by a lot of people. Anyway...the school district here offers one. Bella went to one out in Utah and I thought it was the best thing for her. Surprisingly enough all of my kids can be quite shy at first, Wyatt is the worst, Bella has pretty much outgrown it. I think they need the socialization to work them into Kindergarten, especially all day. And also -little moment of honesty here, I am not one of those mothers who work on things with their kids.

You know the kind I am talking about. Their children know their colors, numbers, letters, names, sounds, etc... by age 2. I don't do flashcards, quizzing, anything really. Not that I have anything against it, I secretly envy those moms and kids. I just don't have the time and it is not a priority. Anyway for this pre-k program you fill out an application, you go have an evaluation and they then pick the students. Based on several criteria, mainly income, skill/knowledge level, and other extenuating circumstances.

Although we are not rich, I somehow had my doubts about us meeting the income objective. As for extenuating circumstances, the guy was like if you don't have a car, weird family situations, etc... Who doesn't have a car? Really. So lastly I was hoping that somehow Wyatt was behind academically figuring all that not working on school stuff had paid off. Or if nothing else his shyness would inhibit him from talking to the assessor.

Just my luck. It turns out Wyatt was very shy. But this guy who would be teaching the class, was so good. He pulls out dinosour toys and they start to play without talking. He then asks Wyatt some questions like who is this with you today, and other primers of the sort. Eventually I can see him segway to the testing and Wyatt is fast coming out of his shell. Oh no. Please be dumb. A prayer not often uttered by mothers I know.

It turns out for all of Wyatt's not talking or being interested or sitting down with me, he is quite the genius - this even confirmed by the teacher. So Wyatt identifies colors, come on, counts to 29, who knew, and continues with some really amazing feats like shapes, rhyming word card games, same sound games, identifying letters, numbers, and timed guessing games. Last of all the guy asks him to draw a picture. Which he does of himself, when prompted who it is, Wyatt answers me, to which the guy says can you write your name. I know he is never going to do this because we have never even tried. Till last week he didn't even know what letters were in his name or so I thought. Wyatt proceeds to write his name nigh on to perfectly with a slightly odd shaped "w", slowly visualizing each letter in his name. Who knew.

In the end the guy said they would finish evaluations this week, have letters mailed one way or another by next week's end. But that this part was his least favorite part of the job, where he unofficially told me not to count on it, and referred me to some other private pre-K, academically based programs. I guess I'm glad Wyatt is a genius, but couldn't he just have actted mute for the thirty minutes thus confusing the testor to believe he is dumb. The things we, maybe it's just me, mothers wish for.