Polar Bear,
What a wise, apt response. Thanks for the reminder. You're right. He's a beautiful writer, very talented in LA, and passionately interested in science as well. He also loves creating things, whether with pieces of wood or computer games. There's no need to insist on his passion in math.
I do want him to regain his confidence, because being "slow" in computation has diminished his view of his competence. That said, this may be the area in which he learns he has to work at something and that is a good thing.
