Ezra and Ashurbanipal

Moving

It's been several weeks since I updated, since final exams took up most of my time and mental energy. Two new developments occurred in the family, however. The first is that Ezra, Isis and I will be moving to Yortkown, Virginia around December of this year (either after my finals are over or my husband is back from deployment--- whichever comes first). This is really fantastic news, because between the beaches, the historical sites, the museums, and the friends I've already made in the Yorktown area I know we're going to have an exciting couple of years on the East Coast.  The kids will be 6 and 3 when we move--- too young for sailing lessons? Okay, they can just learn how to make hemp rope for lines. That way when we sail around the world they can practice their Urdu AND keep their hands busy, i.e. thevoyageofbluesky.com

Sensory Integration and I.Q. tests

Second development--- the developmental psychologist, Dr. A---, who evaluated Ezra (a long-haired vegetarian, what's not to love) met with Jason and I last Friday to discuss his findings. That hour was the best I've spent in terms of parenting since Ezra's birth. I've known for a long time that Ezra was a bright child: I've tried to foster his curiosity, steer him towards excitement and discovery, spark his imagination, and support his ability to get messy and learn for himself. Clearly, however, in this case nurture has been trounced by nature. He's a genius. (I'm not being flippant, but I am now eerily reminded that he had---possibly still has---a plush stuffed Einstein doll since the age of 9 or 10 months. Okay, we sort of doomed him.)

Words I would have previously used to describe Ezra might include--- smart. clever. sharp. quick. Words that indicate the depth and variety of his abilities, but not anything that might indicate a quantified  understanding (on my part). While I might be quick to dismiss tests, numbers, and assorted other compartmentalization of the human being, after I recovered from the shock of seeing Ezra's scores it occurred to me that I've been both over- and under-estimating him.

I have over-estimated Ezra's ability to keep it together and handle tasks and situations that are easy for a "normal" child (I really hate that word, but saying "neurologically average" sounds horrible). At various times and situations during the past, say, three years, I've expected too much of him in terms of his behavior and capability.  

The reverse of this is that I've downplayed his true giftedness, from a combination of a desire to be a mother who is modest in her praise and from an ignorance of Ezra's acumen. After all, how can something like that be measured? Sure, you can chart parts of someone's knowledge and compute a figure that way, but to measure the intelligence of an entire person---- I'm still skeptical.

Still, I do understand that these are comparative tests. For example, Ezra is comparatively smarter than any three or four thousand adults that he may be in a room with. It doesn't mean that he knows more than them (after all, he's five. He still can't tie his shoes properly) but his aptitude is greater. He "skipped" a year into kindergarten, and could now skip to second grade in some subjects. How much more frustrating for him to be around his peers.  It's no wonder he has a difficult time, Dr. A--- reminded us.  Most of the time, Ezra is right and they are wrong.

Mission: to find an occupational therapist to work with Ezra on his Sensory Integration Disorder, to integrate Waldorf homeschooling, and to find social activities that involve only one other child (semi-private pottery lessons?). Protocol: to bite our tongues in terms of the A-word (Asperger's) and use as few labels as possible, letting Ezra mentally thrive once the environmental factors are conquered (lighting, electronic noises, smells, and fabrics can all spell certain doom to a peaceful family afternoon). Equipment: a pat on the back at the end of each day and a good drink or two. For me, Shiraz. For Jason, Wild Turkey.

After all, it won't be all that bad. If you can get Ezra to stop arguing with you about the efficacy of re-establishing the Mercury rocket vs. the fuel-guzzling Apollo program, you might actually get to enjoy his silly side. If he doesn't know you're listening, he'll sing They Might Be Giants in a very silly voice. "We're the Mesopotaaaaaaaaaamiiiiiiians, SarGON-Hammurabi-AshurbaniPAL and GilgaMESH."