I love them like the dark loves its stars.

I don't know how you keep coming up with lines like this, sentences that reverberate through my entire being. And even though I am terribly jealous because I don't seem to be able to find these phrases, I'm so glad you do. Because I get to read them.

I love this post. By the way. "But of course, in the end, it never really mattered. Because no matter where they fall in terms of how they’re understood academically or psychologically, I love those little fuckers." Hell yes.

you are a rockstar dad.

Okay, seriously? I just died. This was awesome. I thought my second kid was...exceptional...due to comparisons with my other two...and he is in fact developmentally delayed and I mean, that much I knew because so is his older brother but it was more the...exceptional-ness...that concerned me...with some educational therapy it turns out I have two developmentally delayed kids, one of whom is exceptional in the good way, and a third kid whose physical health is exceptional (in the not-good way) but whose mental abilities are so exceptionally exceptional that...well, kid number two is a little bit brighter than the average Lite-Brite peg, but not exceptionally so. He's crazy, but he's not stupid.

The non-exceptional kids...hell I teach and I think they're an endangered species. Every semester I swear I'm teaching nothing but geniuses and morons, that the C is extinct, and every semester when I average all of my students' final grades together I come up with...C...and not just because As and Fs average out to Cs but because my C students (and they're there, on paper...) are just unobtrusively going about the business of being unexceptional. One of them could shoot up the campus and if the po-pos interviewed me I'd be all "um...was it the one whose last name rhymed with naughty parts? Because otherwise you've got me..."

There's a lesson here, somewhere.

God you're good. This was perfect and it came at a perfect time. I have a 9 year old gifted daughter. And I have a ADHD (Severe) with depression and possible mood disorder (ie Bipolar) 7 year old son. They both are exceptional. They both are the stars to my dark. Thanks.

:-)

God, how do you get it so right all the time?

I love them like the dark loves its stars. Constantly. With no exceptions.

(sigh)

Great post! I think that everyone wants their children to be above average but hey, some kids have to be average or even below average. But they're all beautiful and amazing. And I love your second to last sentence. I keep you.

This post was... exceptional

Seriously I don't think I ever GOT that you could feel this way prior to having a kid. I thought it was all kinda bullshit. But after we had Felix (who is now 2)...I truly and completely GET that. Parenthood is so fucked up sometimes...it really and truly is.

Even on the days when he's (Felix) the BIGGEST dickhead....I still love him. Yes, I secretly want to escape to Cuba sometimes to get a break from him....but I still love him....constantly with no exceptions.

Beautifully written.

I have an exceptional daughter. And she refuses to hand in her homework. Shit grades. My not-so-exceptional kids get A's.

Go figure . . .

Um you'd be wrong.

I'd compliment you on your writing skills as per normal but I'm a little pissed at the use of the R word dude. Way to shoot my efforts out of the fucking water.

Nicely done.

And you know I heart you. You big R-word loving doofus.

You've got it all wrong, Tanis. That conversation was from back in 2005. Back then I was coarse.

I have both kinds of exceptional kids. Nerds and tards. Like you said [so awesomely], it just doesn't matter. Love 'em CONSTANTLY.

Wow, that was perfect. I'm glad to read you are still alive, as I never seem to cross paths with you in our shared space. Miss you. J

Well then you are totally forgiven. Thanks for the clarity. I knew you weren't coarse. I KNEW you were the picture of refinement. Tis why I like you so much.

Heh.

I love them like the dark loves its stars.

Making me cry, BHJ.

I teach exceptional kids and have one of my own.

The world (or at the very least, schools) could use more people like you.

OK, so the dark loving stars thing was, of course, brilliant, but my favorite line was:

....and it turns out that Lucy’s just as stupid as most 5-year-olds.

that was fucking hilarious!

"Like the dark loves its stars"...that one will reverberate around my brain for awhile. Promise you won't ever become a speechwriter for Republicans.

"Jackson’s just a nerd. It was an honest mistake."

i like that one. i'm amazed at your ability to capture and convey your blind love for your family. it's quite the thing, that is.

Constantly with no exceptions is so impressive.

But dude, get over yourself. You're not the dark.

I could've told you Tanis would find a way over here after you said not to tell her. That being said, I think both your kids rock. No matter how exceptional or typical the teachers with special training say they are or aren't.

That was one of the most beautiful posts I have ever read. I love that line about the dark loving stars. Brilliant.

Just found your blog and have read non-stop for 2 hours. Wanted to comment several times, but I knew there'd be a moment where I'd find myself reading and re-reading and that would be comment-worthy.

But, literally, I have lost all my words except for "effing amazing". I'm a writing teacher. I love to write. I love to teach. But those two terms never seem to really go together. You just either have it, or you don't. You, good sir, totally have it. Can't wait to read more.