Since my son was identified as "gifted," he's been in a "Challenge Class" that requires him to know advanced vocabulary. Additionally, he is supposed to actually know how to spell the advanced vocabulary he's given. He rarely knows which words he's supposed to study, and he fails nearly every vocabulary test he takes. But he shocked us completely when he came home yesterday and announced he'd signed up for the district spelling bee.
He looked so proud of himself when he told me in the car on the way home. That was probably the safest place for him because I had to pay attention to the road rather than look at him and ask, "Are you kidding me?" Instead, I mumbled some sort of encouraging-sounding word as I inwardly rolled my eyes.
My son hates to study. He calls homework "stupid" and "pointless," and I spend a great deal of time trying to convince him of the purpose of homework. However, he loves words and reading. His spelling skills are amazing, and most of the words I ask him to spell, he can. However, spelling bee words are different, more difficult, and some are even words I've never heard before.
I began grilling him the other day on words like "chickabiddy" and "isosceles." He didn't know how to spell them, but he came close. Knowing how capable he is where spelling is concerned, maybe the spelling bee is a good idea. I want him to explore his options and stretch himself. I don't want him living in fear of what he can or cannot do. I've spent my life fearing the unknown, fearing my own intellectual abilities. I want better for my son.
So next week begins his foray into the world of spelling bees as an alternate, and then January he will actually compete. And I will be behind him, cheering him on his way.
My son, the one who hates to study, now has words like "chickabiddy" and "jejune" to learn by next week. I suspect he has some devious plot hatched to cause me more wrinkles and gray hair as I fight him to learn his words. "Isosceles" and "perambulate" anyone? I started shooting words at home tonight like a rapid fire gun, only to find that he knows few of them. The first spelling bee is next week! There are a few words I don't even know, but a nine year old? Especially one who hates to study? I can't imagine the horror, the horror of the next week.
I love my son deeply, and I want him to try new things in school, like playing drums, acting, or anything that doesn't require even more homework. I don't think my face or hair can take the stress!
