Fayette-Mom: Outsmarted by grade schoolers

I knew this day would come. It was inevitable in my mind that this milestone would be reached. One day, I was sure, my children would surpass me in many, if not all, areas of intellect. That’s just the natural order of things, right?

I just didn’t know if would happen when they were in elementary school.

I could try to deny it. I certainly have tried to talk myself out of it over the last several months. But the evidence, it is piling up and I must say, there’s not much of a contest these days.

How many times have I had to google something for their homework, only to have them rattle off the answer without a blink of an eye? (When this happens, I just slide the sheaf of papers I’ve printed out behind my back, all slick like).

What about all those occasions in which my younger child will ask a somewhat simple question (re: what causes waves in the ocean) and I stammer out a pretty lame answer, only to have my second grader (!!!) give a detailed explanation??? (This has happened more often than I care to admit…and my just nodding along and giving praise as both an acknowledgment of my daughter’s smarts and as a way of deflecting attention away from my inadequacies is surely going to be exposed for what it is … sooner rather than later).

And we’re not even going to talk about the kids’ proficiency with all things electronic. My husband and I both struggle to command our smart phones, often taking a couple of days before we have a comfortable grasp of things. Meanwhile, my kindergartner son has the hang of it in two minutes flat. (Although I will say …. I’ve given up being embarrassed by this. It’s way more convenient to embrace it and let my kid handle all my technical needs).

Yes, being a parent in 2012 is enough to make you feel a little dumb … or old …. or dumb and old. Hmpf.

But …. as long as neither of them can tie their shoes ….. I OWN THEM.