You Are Excellent At Math.
Today’s letter came from a time before we even knew that Dylan had ADHD, before we realized exactly how gifted he is, and long before Dylan realized that he would be an asset to any team.
August 18, 2010
Dearest Dylan,
Months after the incident, you told me about a time when, in 3rd grade, your class was playing a math game and you were chosen second-to-last for “teams.” You were broken-hearted because Jared was picked first and you said he was the smartest boy in the school. So, since you were picked second-to-last, you assumed you must be second-to-dumbest in math.
I thought back on the days when I would go out to play kickball with my class, and we would choose teams. I was always picked last. I just stood there, waiting for someone to call my name, but no one ever did. Eventually the teacher would just point to where I should go.
I was an excellent kickball player. I am still an excellent kickball player. But when I didn’t get picked, I thought, “I must not be very good.”
Now, thinking about you and math, I remember that you read at an 8th grade level when you were in 3rd grade, and you scored even higher in math than you did in reading. In other words, you are excellent at math.
Yet some kid made you feel like you weren’t good. Some kid who obviously has no idea that you are spectacular, inside and out, and that you would be an awesome addition to any team – math or otherwise.
You spend a lot of time “spacing out” in school because it bores you. Maybe you are staring out the window and thinking about how a jet plane works or planning the design of the world’s greatest roller coaster in your head. Maybe you are solving the problem of world hunger, one village at a time. Who knows? But you are still great at math.
Maybe they just don’t know you well enough yet.
I am sorry you didn’t get picked first, or even second, for the math team. But I wouldn’t change one thing about you – not one single thing – even if I could. God made you this way for a reason, and you are perfect just exactly as you are. Remember that, please.
Love, Mom