Loved this:
I realized that parenthood always entails perplexity and that the valence of that perplexity matters less than the spirit with which parents respond to it. Half the prodigies I studied seemed to be under pressure to be even more astonishing than they naturally were, and the other half, to be more ordinary than their talents. Studying their families, I gradually recognized that all parenting is guesswork, and that difference of any kind, positive or negative, makes the guessing harder.
We really don't have the personalities to mentor prodigies here (using the word in the traditional sense--like a musical prodigy or a child with another splinter skill requiring extraordinary time, money, etc to nurture). We don't seem to have that sort, although I wondered if DS might be a bit of a chess prodigy for a while. He's dropped that interest for the moment, which is more than fine with me.
DD was recently solicited to audition for a professional play due to her involvement in a local theater program. The commitment required was insane (for one, she would have missed a LOT of school). I just...man, I couldn't see it for us. Sometimes I feel like I'm a jerk for not being more open to this. I guess I would be in some circumstances, but I have to be convinced that this one thing is REALLY important. My kids seem to be pretty well-rounded and have shown ability in a lot of areas, but not really extreme ability in any one thing.
