We sat at the dinner table the other night arguing about which one of us is smartest. I don’t remember who started it, but one of us asked, “Who do you think the smartest person in our family is?”
To which we all replied, “I am.” Of course.
Then our 9 year-old daughter said, “Actually, I think Dad’s the smartest.”
“Whaaat?” I said. Traitor.
She had the grace to squirm in her seat. “Why’s Dad the smartest?” I asked.
“Because he’s a scientist and a teacher.”
“So scientists are automatically smarter than everyone else?” I said. Where do we get these ideas? I remember thinking the same thing when I was young.
“Well,” she squirmed some more. “He’s also a teacher,” she said.
“Mom’s a teacher, too,” said our 11 year-old son. My hero. “She teaches people how to WordPress.”
❤
Our daughter teased her older brother. “You need to learn the difference between a noun and a verb.”
I laughed and said, “I think you used that perfectly well, buddy.”
He shrugged and said, “I know how to verb.”
I think I’ve made my choice.
Butterfly Mind 
27 responses to “Who’s the smartest one of all?”
Well, the kids certainly are smart 🙂
A delightful insight into family life here, Andrea.
And it’s an indisputable, natural and universal law – mums are the smartest people of all.
I like you Anne.
That’s nice. I like that you like me and I like you too 🙂 Now completely worn out the word ‘like’ 🙂 It’s away for a lie down.
Provocative! Love it!
Don’t tell AB!
Love it! And we have had similar conversations around the table – numerous times! 🙂
funny! I find it amazing how our children rationalize things LOL
I think everyone is smart in their own way. I do not feel that I am exceptional in an academic way so I wouldn’t say I am ‘conventionally smart’, but I have a natural ability to read other people’s feelings and emotions I understand things that they haven’t physically said because I can read body language and sometimes read between the lines of what they ARE saying to understand what they are NOT saying. I like to call it Empathy-Smart.
Naomi – that’s a great term for it. there’s actually a book and psychology speak for it… It’s “emotionally intelligent.” I had someone tell me that time and loved it. Sounds like you have the gift! 🙂
Ooh! I like that term too! I’m emotionally intelligent 😀 Thanks! I may have to research that term a bit.
Naomi, you have a very special gift..being able to read people. Never discount that. Quite often intellectuals can lack this skill altogether and need to have even basic human emotions spelt out to them. Just look at Sheldon on Big Bang Theory. xx Rowena
My IQ is the highest, but my hubby can take apart and fix anything, and I mean anything. Now, that’s smart! 🙂
Adorable! And your kids are quite clever!
HAHA! I think your son wins this round…
For sure 🙂
The smartest is the one who remains silent. You can keep your mouth shut, and be thought a fool, or open it, and remove all doubt. 😉
Reblogged this on luvr boi and commented:
Hahaha! Simple, yet meaningful.
Love this! the kids are such cuties.
Your son is hilarious. Thank you for teaching us how to WordPress, or is that how to press words?
they both work for me 😉
Hi 🙋 Andrea,
I read through your blog only today and really love ❤ your writing. Your choice of words and your narration is simply fantastic. I’m your fan now, thank you 😊
Reblogged this on beyondtheflow and commented:
Hi All,
People have been arguing about who is the smartest, who is the most important since the dawn of time. This post had a humorous twist to this age old question xx Rowena
Hi Andrea,
I absolutely loved this post. I had a medically challenging year last year and wasn’t able to get back to work due to lingering effects from chemo brain. As Christmas approached and I was looking at meeting up with family and writing our annual newsletter, I went into a bit of a funk. Nobody was looking down on me. Indeed, many people have been encouraged by my journey but I still felt I hadn’t satisfied my own requirements. Anyway, WordPress has bailed me out of the doldrums. I’ve received 3 blogging awards and when I read my annual review it turns out that my blog had had visitors from 62 countries. A couple of days ago, I finally worked out how to see how many people have viewed my posts since I started and that gave me further encouragement. Prior to blogging, I was only sharing my poetry with my husband and perhaps a couple of friends and now hundreds have at least “viewed” it.
I am definitely thinking your son is a rare gem. No doubt every blogger who has read your post, has felt validated and reaffirmed by his words. Please pass on my thanks!! I’ll share this post with my kids in the morning. xx Rowena
I’m the smartest because I know enough to never get into hat discussion.
What a delightful and charming story. Loved it! 🙂
I loved tin earring into that conversation. We have it around our house often when someone does something not so bright. We understand that there are different kinds of smart. My children have a great deal of intelligence but I scored the common sense. I ‘ll take that any day. I can always look up what I don’t know. 🙂
Such an assault on the English language! The verbification of a noun! Unacceptable. OK, so text me, OK? 🙂 p.s. Both children sound clever (taking the neutral ground)