The Write Thing to Do

So I mentioned in my last post about our "challenges" with the computer.  But the truth is my kids would not be able to excel like they do without it.

Sam has basically self-taught himself how to use the music software, GarageBand, and without that it would take a lot longer to compose and create.

Jeff was downloading programs and loading them on my computer when he was like 3 years old.  They figure it out so fast and it's tough to keep ahead of them.

Jeff is also an incredible writer.  Because of his extensive reading his vocabulary is "out there" and his spelling is remarkable.  He is a member of The Davidson Institute as a Young Scholar and they have been providing some guidance for us as to how to get Jeff published.  He loves fiction and has an incredible imagination... sometimes too incredible.

Check out www.davidsongifted.org for more information.  The resources for the Young Scholar program are free if you qualify.  I don't think we've tapped into their full resources yet but that is more because of Jeff's stubbornness than anything else.  Our contact there along with Jeff's English Honors teach in high school are convinced he could write a book that would be published if he put the effort in.  Sometimes I feel like that's a big IF.  He can write so smoothly on the first pass it's not even funny.

Check out his blog at www.jeffreypackard.blogspot.com and start on the January 8, 2011 post.  It's titled, "Tomorrow" and he has several posts along that fictional storyline since then.  I've seen him take only about 10 minutes to complete a post and it will blow you away in it's detail and complexity.  I hope you like it.  My cousin used to work for Sony Pictures and joked that he can't wait to see the movie.

But the challenge becomes encouraging Jeff to write and use his gifts in place of wasting time doing video games and other screen time.  We argue about this often.  Some of the imaginative role playing scenarios he's developed could easily be transformed into fictional blockbusters.  I'm just trying to show him that moderation is the best way to go and screen time should not be the first priority.

I used to play a ton of video games but I also kept up on my homework and had a social life - sometimes that was a bad thing.  Basically, the whole situation is complex.  I feel like we're in the middle of some sort of story.  Some times its a horror story and other times its adventure.  Many times it's just one big mystery on how to raise my kids but I'm thankful they're mine and I'm going to do the best that I can and see where the next chapter leads!