College? For What?

At dinner last night.

"I'm going to college at Virginia Tech," Jo announced. "I'm going to be a vet."

Sam shrugged. "I'm not going to college," he said.

"WHAT? What do you mean? Why not!" Jo was horrified.

"I don't know," said Sam. "I mean, what IS college?"

"Well," I said, in my most Gently Guiding My Child Not to Screw Up His Life voice, "College is where you go to learn about things you really love."

"Oh, well, then I really don't need to go to college," said Sam. "I already know everything about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

"NO, Sam, you have to go to college," said Jo, exasperated. "What are you going to be when you grow up?"

"I just want to be a Normal Person," said Sam.

"What does THAT mean? A "normal person"?"

"You know, like YOU, Mama. A normal person. You know - you go to work and you come home. Like that!"

"All Mama does is boring computer work all day," said Jo, shaking her head. "You don't want to do that."

"Computers like video games?" asked Sam, excited.

"No, BORING," said Jo.

"Well goodness, it's not that bad," I said. "I get to write stories sometimes."

"About what?" asked Jo.

"About doctors and medical treatments."

"Yeah, boring," she said. "Sam, you could grow up and write stories, like novels, be a story teller. Or a teacher. You'd be good at that."

"Yeah, a teacher!" said Sam. "I like math. I'm really good at it. It's fun. I really like it. Watch: What's 9 + 7? 16. See? I did that in my head. And I always get 100%. Not like 2%, or 4%, but 100%."

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I love these conversations. Actually, Sam IS apparently good at math - he's being taught by the Quest teacher (gifted) for math, and apparently has a great mind for it.

We met with their teachers the other day and they are both doing great. Sam is a great citizen in class and reading where he should be.

And Jo? She's finally getting organized and learning not to fidget in class. She's completing her work. And she's reading at a 7th grade level and excelling in every area of academics. And of course is happy and has lots of friends. AND, she is great at helping out others in her class who aren't at her level, apparently doing so in a very teacher-like manner that her teacher greatly appreciates.

Very proud of both of them. Whatever they grow up and become.