My Child Is More Intelligent Than Me

My children are more intelligent than me. I suspect that I am not alone in this epiphany, but that doesn't make it any less uncomfortable.

I have two girls who are five years apart. Mealtimes were often a trial; one would sit head bowed slowly, picking at everything on her plate, while the other enthusiastically ate everything on her plate except the vegetables. She happily declared that she no eat "bejetables." "Oh yes, you do!" was my go-to, lofty reply. There ensued a battle of wills that I usually lost. My explanation that children needed their vegetables to grow big and tall habitually fell on deaf ears.

I remember one particular mealtime when Kayla reminded me that she didn't like cauliflower. What's not to like, for goodness sake? It hardly has any taste and is an excellent base for everyone's favourite, grated cheese. This lunchtime saw me have a staredown with my youngest. Eyes locked with mine, she gently picked up a tiny floret of cauliflower and placed it in her mouth. Without moving anything but her mouth, she began to chew. She chewed once with slow deliberation, once more with lips screwed tight. Her next movement was to swallow the tiny piece of mush. Success! Oh, it was not meant to be. Kayla proceeded to throw up on the table and herself. When done, she glared at me through lowered lids and quietly said, "I don't eat bejetables, Mama." Oh, for God's sake, Kayla! This incident was nothing out of the ordinary because, as a mom of young kids, I was constantly cleaning up after them and cursing under my breath.

The actual discovery of her acumen came months later at the local swimming pool. While getting dried off after frolicking with pool toys, she walked to the automatic hand dryer on the wall. She slowly reached out with one of her hands, stretching up and up onto her tippy toes. With a squeal of success, she smacked the large button, turning on the stream of warm air. With genuine delight, I said out loud something along the lines of, "Oh, you big grown-up girl!" to which she promptly turned to face me and replied, "Yes, I am and with no bejetables either!" There was a moment of amused silence in the changing room.

The other mothers looked at me with sympathy and genuine merriment. They knew exactly what I was thinking. With smiles that ranged from slight to beaming, they understood my dilemma and commiserated with my plight. At that moment, we were connected as only young mothers can be. We knew then, without a doubt, that my child was more intelligent than me.

Update:
Today she is following a Vegan lifestyle and only eats vegetables!

Have you ever been struck with the wonder of parenthood? I would love to hear your thoughts on that.