My older son thought he was "bad at math" for three years (4th-6thgrades) because of a random innocent comment by a teacher at the same time he was winning contests for math, getting highest score on state tests in math and other indicators that this wasn't true. I also think because he didn't know how to do each math skill before someone taught him, he thought he wasn't as good at it as other academic areas. But he really thinks logically and mathematically about most stuff he comes across and has since 3rd grade....percentages, probability, fractions are part of his thinking and conversations about life....not how I think at all.
My second son is the kind of kid who you teach a foundation concept and then asks about the next logical concept as well as three concepts down the road. He might not have it all figured out but his mind is just whirling on. You can give him an above level test and he can "muscle through it" pretty decently using what he does know and what he thinks the next higher stuff is. Confidence has never been a problem with this one in any area.
