Discovering His Gift

I knew my son was advanced when he rolled from his stomach to back at just one month old.  I remember it well.  I was trying to get him to do tummy time (he hated it), so I put him on my two-inch thick foam mattress.  He still didn’t like it and just decided to turn over.  Even given that amazing feat, it wasn’t until 17 months later that I realized how extraordinary he really was.

We were at the local Nature Center, he loved the large snakes.  The bigger the better.  You could feel the excitement coming out of him yet he was calm so he wouldn’t scare the snakes or hurt their ears.

I was pointing to and reading the sign about the African House Snake.  I wasn’t sure he was paying attention.  I figured details like how long they grew and where they come from would go right over his head.  I moved on to the next sign in the group, not knowing that in a few seconds, my son would astound me.

His smiling face turned serious.  He was looking at the African House Snake sign and then pointed to it.

His tiny finger was steady as it pointed to the letter A on the snake exhibit’s sign.  Then he looked at me, smiled, and said, “A, ahh.”  He was so sure and proud.  It took me a few seconds to realize what had just happened.

My little baby, 18 months old, had not only started recognizing letters but their sounds as well. I couldn’t believe it.  I tried getting him to say it on camera but the little stinker just smiled at me and shook his head no.  He was done with the snakes and wanted to go get some food.

There had been other times when I knew he was different.  At four months old when, while playing with the large activity center, he pulled himself up from sitting to standing.  Imagine my surprise when, instead of shaking the activity center, he stood up.

He was a bit slow to crawl.  The butt-shuffle was his preferred method of movement.  Then, one day, he wanted a toy off his shelf and I wouldn’t get it for him.  He butt-shuffled over and couldn’t quite reach it.  I’m sure you can guess what happened next.  My little wonder stood up to get the toy.  Then he proceeded to walk the three steps over to me and gave it to me.

His smile was the biggest I had ever seen.  He was so proud of himself.  It was in these moments I knew he would be advanced but nothing prepared me for him identifying the letter A and its sound.

I went from amazement to excitement in the span of a few days.  Then came the fear and self-doubt.  What was I going to do with this amazing child?  Could I be everything he needs me to be?  Will I be able to provide what he needs to thrive at an advanced pace?

These were just a few of the questions running through my head.  I took some deep breaths and within a few weeks, the fear and most of the self-doubt went away.  I started to get excited.

What would he become?  Is something I still ask myself almost every day.  Since he was two years old, he would say that he was going to go to the moon.  Then, around four years old, he changed it to he was going to go to the moon and build stuff.  

He is six years old now and his interest in space and science seems to be without bounds.  His favorite field trips are to NASA and the local Nature Center.  I don’t know if he is going to space but I do know that he is going to be amazing.

It’s still hard to believe sometimes that he started to read before he was two years old.  That’s what learning your letter sounds is.  It changed how I parent him.

I’ve learned to look at where he is and not the traditional views of where he should be.  I am so grateful that I get to be his mom and help him become whoever he will become.

Feeding a Family on a Tight Budget: Delicious Meals for About $10

1.  Slow Cooker Chili with Cornbread
2.  One-Pot Pasta Primavera
3.  Loaded Bake Potato

Slow Cooker Chili with Cornbread

Serves: 6-8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4-6 hours (slow cooker)

Chili Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef or turkey ($4)
• 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed ($1)
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed ($1)
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies ($1.50)
• 1 small onion, diced ($0.50)
• 1 cup frozen corn ($1)
• 2 tbsp chili powder (pantry staple)
• 1 tsp cumin (pantry staple)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika (pantry staple)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cornbread Ingredients:

• 1 box cornbread mix (e.g., Jiffy) ($1)
• 1 egg and 1/3 cup milk (as per cornbread mix instructions, ~$0.50)

Instructions:

1. In a skillet, brown the ground beef or turkey over medium heat. Drain any excess fat.
2. Add the meat to your slow cooker along with beans, tomatoes, onion, corn, and spices. Stir to combine.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
4. Prepare the cornbread according to package instructions. Bake just before serving.
5. Serve chili in bowls with a side of warm cornbread. Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, or green onions.

One-Pot Pasta Primavera

Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 12 oz spaghetti or fettuccine ($1.50)
• 2 cups mixed vegetables (zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli, etc.) ($3)
• 3 cups vegetable broth ($1.50)
• 1 cup heavy cream ($1.50)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese ($1)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced ($0.50)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (pantry staple)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (pantry staple)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).
2. Add vegetable broth, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
3. Add the pasta and cook for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
4. Add the mixed vegetables to the pot and continue to cook until the pasta is al dente and the vegetables are tender (about 5-7 minutes).
5. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Serve hot with additional cheese on top if desired.

Loaded Baked Potato

Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 4-6 large russet potatoes ($3)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.50)
• 1/2 cup sour cream ($1)
• 1/2 cup cooked bacon bits ($2)
• 1/2 cup steamed broccoli ($1)
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions ($0.50)
• 1/4 cup butter ($0.50)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Scrub the potatoes and pierce each with a fork several times. Place directly on the oven rack and bake for 50-60 minutes or until tender.
2. Set up a toppings station with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, broccoli, green onions, and butter.
3. Once the potatoes are cooked, split them open and let each person customize their potato with their favorite toppings.
4. Serve with a simple side salad for a complete meal.