Musings

A recent discussion centered around the interests of young children and if they maintain those interests as they grow up.

I thought about Holly, who loved writing, riding (horses), and ice skating.  I remember her writing a book when she was 6 or 7 for Mackenzie's baby sister. She's written stories through literally hundreds of notebooks.  She hasn't written fiction for fun since going away to school, although a recent assignment brought that back. I can't imagine her ever stopping for good.

Her riding lessons stopped only because we had difficulties finding an instructor after we moved here.  We tried several, at least four, and while we stuck with one for a while, we were always looking for something more that we didn't find. Her passion for riding never stopped, and our tradition of going to the  Roanoke Valley Horse Show to watch the jumping competition each year continues.

Ice skating, sadly fizzled out when her skating buddy Kelsi moved.  We used to have so much fun going to the rink every week.  I don't know how long Holly would have otherwise continued, but those are great memories.

When she was 9 or 10, she invented her own alternate alphabet so she and Kelsi could write secret notes.  Holly memorized those letters that same day.  The secret notes didn't last that long, but her knack for languages exploded several years later.  She taught herself by listening to German songs and watching Lakota cartoons on youtube. There was those many months that she wrote her biology notes in Korean. She's done so well in her Chinese classes over the last two years, and she's one of the few currently in her class with an A, even though several are native speakers.

Trevor's always been one who draws.  I will never forget his drawing of Arthur (the aardvark) when he was 4. He did it freehand, from his own mind, not even looking at a picture. He's done things like that ever since, can replicate any character. Now he draws Manga.

He also always loved creating things, usually with Lego. He liked the kits, but he spent hours creating his own scenes, multiple storied buildings, all very intricate. He went on to create his own custom Lego figures, using special tape and markers and modifying pieces to suit his designs.  He of course recently built his own computer, and he spends a lot of time modifying his video games, and enhancing his graphics. He explains it to me using words like textures, tessalations, light/shadowing, all things that are over any of my understanding. 

It's been interesting so far to see how those early passions have stuck with them, transforming and refining a bit as they've grown.  I look forward to seeing how these early interests continue to change as they find their true niche.