I’m sure all you parents out there can relate.  The “what, why, who” questions started a few years ago, but now they’ve progressed to word definitions.  So when PJ asked me if her baby sister was average, I didn’t know what to say.  I sort of floundered and then responded, “I guess so.”  Which was silly, now that I think about it, but what would you say?  Then PJ said, “What is ‘average’?”  Yeah, explain that to a kid.  I basically said it was medium.  Like there is some better and some worse and average is the middle.  Crazy definition and not even accurate, but think about it.  That’s a tough one.

Then….you guessed it.  PJ asked if she was average.  Now this I can definitely say, no!  But I was thinking in terms of scholastically.  But I didn’t, “Oh, no, definitely not!”  Instead, I changed the subject (like a PC Mom would) and said, “Well, you work very hard and are very smart.  Just keep up the good work and good things will happen for you.”  What did that have to do with average?  Anyway, thankfully she dropped it.

But, I got to thinking.  PJ’s school is right in the middle of Star testing and I know they group the kids by hispanic, white, english language learners and socio-economically disadvantaged.  So, since PJ is at the top of her class in reading and comprehension and in the top 2 for Math, she’s really gonna help the average out for her school in terms of how they count the hispanic kids, right?  I believe we checked both boxes this year (black and hispanic), so not sure where they’ll actually count her.

I’m really pumped about the fact that she does so well.  Not just because she’s my daughter and I’m proud of her, but also because it’s a “boo-yah” in the face of the system.  Ethnic kids are smart too! It makes me feel good that as the only black kid in class and one of a handful of hispanic kids, she’s at the top.  Even so, we’ve never made a big deal out of it and neither does PJ.  I think it shocks every teacher, every year and next year will probably be no different.  But I like to shock people and I think PJ does to.  Never underestimate the underdog…

Anyway, I love my MixtKids and no, they’re not “average” (MJ included).  Who’s kid is, right?  All our kids are amazing!!!