"Be obscure clearly." I can't stop thinking about E.B. White's quote.
The author found his genius in writing, and once he wrote, "I can't remember any time in my life when I wasn't busy writing."
But is genius so often spelled out like the words woven into Charlotte's Web? True magic reveals itself in mysterious ways, so why should genius be any less extraordinary?
When you allow yourself to see genius through the lens of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, a whole new world comes to life. And it's not one that's dominated by tests and time limits.
It's a world of...play. Some of us like to play with words, some with numbers, others with music or art, and some with dance or tennis. We may not all be geniuses in the intellectual sense of the word ( and this type of genius needs to be nurtured just like any other type of genius), but we all have a spark - something unique within us - that is a gift waiting to be shared with others.
Some of us never discover that gift, but that shouldn't stop us from helping our children to find theirs. How can we do that, when the clues might not exactly be spelled out for us?
Well, according to Rick Ackerly, who recently published the book, The Genius in Children: Bringing out the best in your child, we need to "treat children as if they know what they're doing." Instead of rushing in to teach, we should watch, listen, and follow their leads. See what they come up with on their own before we rush in to solve a problem for them. It makes a lot of sense to me. As a matter of fact, I wish more teachers would follow this philosophy as well.
According to Rick, who has been guiding children as a principal and father for many years, a parent's role is not to teach in the traditional sense of the word, but to enjoy learning along with their children. Instead of trying to teach academic skills, parents should share books and real life learning experiences. I love when he states that the one thing parents should do is to "read to their children every evening before they go to bed." It doesn't mean they should try to teach reading skills. It's more important to make reading a fun, enjoyable, and memorable experience.
In Rick's view, parents should act more like air traffic controllers than hovering helicopters. Give them freedom, but make sure they arrive and depart safely. Let them take responsibility for their words, choices, actions, and mistakes. Let them figure out who they are on their own terms, and without pressure to "succeed," or to fill anyone's dreams but their own.
Rick raises an important point that "We make a mistake every time we take responsibility for something children can handle themselves." As parents, we forget that doing nothing is in fact a choice, and sometimes the best one we could ever make. Sometimes, we pass on our anxiety by stepping in before we give our children a chance to solve their own problems. He refers to a very interesting and relevant (even though it was published back in 2004) Psychology Today article, entitled A Nation of Wimps, by Hara Estroff Marano.
What I like most about The Genius in Children is the anecdotes the author shares, which come from his extensive experience as a father and educator. He sheds light on what it takes to help a child to not only unlock the rainbow which lies within, but to be proud of what makes him unique. When we celebrate and delight in our differences, that’s when we will truly shine.
So, E.B. White spent a lot of his time writing. It would seem his parents did not have a hard time figuring out what his genius was. It was plain for them to see. It isn't that easy for most parents, though, is it? We have our children trying out all sorts of extracurricular activities, and taking all these AP tests, but where is it all leading? Are we missing clues because we're so immersed in all that busyness? I know the movie, Race to Nowhere, is coming out soon, and is about this very issue. It's not playing in many theaters, though, so I may not get to see it anytime soon. Please let me know if you do!
The road to discovering genius certainly is not a straight, paved highway. We try so hard to lead our children to the road of success, often eliminating any obstacles in their path; but in doing so, it's quite possible that we're taking away the magic.
The magic is in the ambiguity. Think of it not as a hurdle to jump over, but as the final piece of the great puzzle of life. One day, it might just pop up in front of you just as a rainbow would. Just make sure you're on the look out for it. You wouldn't want to be looking the other way, and miss out in it completely.
Remember to look closely at those cobwebs before you brush them away! And never forget the words of E.B. White: "Be obscure clearly."
