Charley, the wunderkind

I think you know that my eldest child is a special creature.  There's no doubt that he is delayed in certain parts of his life: he is clumsy and awkward, he can't hold a pencil properly, he struggles to understand his peers, and he often retreats to what we call "Charleyworld".

Along with these 'deficiencies' he has numerous gifts.  He remembers every single thing that has ever happened to him, and will often refer to something that happened in, say, June 2008.  He can read back a book you've read to him perfectly, even after the first reading.  He builds complex structures with blocks and has amazing spatial perception.

I can't help wondering what he'll do with these gifts.  I'm not nearly as clever as he, and don't know how to distill his talents and direct them in the most accurate way.  I know he's only 5 and has years to figure it all out, but when you have a brain like Charley, the best thing to do is give it a focus.

I watched this old video last week and couldn't help feeling a connection with the child portrayed.   That's the scary kind of focus that Charley displays when he's interested in something.

So, of course, I asked him at dinner "Charley, do you hear music in your head?".  He replied "Yes, Mommy".

"Really" I said, leaning in, "what does it sound like?".

Now his response doesn't transcribe well, but imagine a malfunctioning alarm clock, shrilly sounding a 'deet deet deet' noise and you'll have an idea.

I'm pretty sure he's not a musical prodigy.  Ha ha ha... He is certainly pretty unique. 

I accompanied the class to the graveyard this morning so that they could place the poppy crosses that they made in class.  I had a group of 3 kids with me, including Charley.

We talked on the walk over about the soldiers and the war and graveyards and tombstones and I did my best to explain the term "respect" to 3 kindergartners.  (I think I said it meant 'being quiet and polite at the same time').  This was mostly for Charley's benefit because he's been known to be inappropriate in public.  Like, everyday.

Thinking I'd covered the subject enough (let's not get into too many details of death and war and gravestones, right?) I herded them over to the large group of 4 classes that had gathered to hear some veterans say a few words.

As they spoke the kids earnestly looked on and tried to understand why they were there, little cardboard poppies in hand.

Charley waited for a particularly quiet moment before asking me, in his usual peak volume, "when do we get to dig up the skeletons?".

Yep.  That's my kid.  My clever, infuriating, curious and totally random child.