My Niece, the Great Antagonizer...and Asker of Awesome Questions

Avery and the Zedder hanging out at Grandma's place, December 2009

My niece, Avery, is eleven years old and a thinker of curious and questionable thoughts. Her latest, and quite possibly greatest, awkward academic accident occurred this past week when she brought up the subject of "The Big Bang Theory" at her school...a Catholic School. Needless to say, she's not the most popular little girl with her teacher. She is, however, in my books one of the brightest lights I can see on the horizon.

Good for her for questioning things. Don't misunderstand me, that's not to say that anyone is right or wrong in this scenario but it does support the notion that everyone has the right to their own opinion. In case her super sensitive teacher wasn't paying attention that was a monumental teachable moment that she missed while she was busy admonishing my niece for using her brain to ask a few legitimate questions about the world that she lives in. Avery's a smart kid, as is evident, and if Zo can grow up half as kind, sensitive, and inquisitive...maybe a few other "tives"...I'll be as proud as you can imagine.

4 out of 5 kids that question the accuracy of the information that their elementary school teacher's give them earn, on average $50, 000 more per year than their stupid counterparts. It's true. I have several graphs and a wikipedia entry to prove it. I'd footnote it but it's tough to cite your own imagination.

Nice work Avery. Now we just have to work on standing up for yourself without earning detentions. That one's a waaay harder skill to master but essential if you ever want to grow up, be super successful, return to our hometown, find your old teacher and rub your astonishing wealth, happiness and success in her tired old face. It's the sweetest fruit on the vine and you can't miss out on the taste of that. Talk about teachable moment...