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Dec 03 2008

Unfortunately talent doesn’t inherit up.

Posted by Christine Cavalier in Right-in, Works

Today I was hit by the cold, hard fact that my kid will be an infinitely better writer than I’ll ever be.

You can go on about how it is impossible to compare writers, how it’s like comparing people, everyone has different strengths, blah blah blah.  I know.  But there is such a thing as natural ability, and when it comes to painting images with words, my kid is miles ahead of me, or, at least where I was at that age.  My kid will just continue improving at an astounding rate, whereas I will trudge on with what I’ve got.  I will improve, hopefully, but not enough to even compare with my kid’s raw talent.

Take the following poem for example.  The imagery is rich.  This is a first draft.

My Daddy
By L.C.P.
When my Dad gets home I see
his fun glowing eyes
It makes me beam
I love my Daddy.
When my Daddy gets home he
smells like colorful candy.
Then he gets into his home clothes,
he becomes a piece of the house.
I love my Daddy.
When he throws me up in
the air I close my eyes and
fly.
I love my Daddy.

“Home clothes” and “becomes a piece of the house” bits had to be the best for me.  No way I was writing stuff like that in 3rd grade.  I was definitely writing; My 3rd grade teacher said that she will be taking my novel off the shelf one day (I never forgot this, thanks Miss Chaya!).  But I didn’t have the insight into imagery and symbolism to be able to write like that.

As I said, my kid is just going to keep improving.  People will remember my kid’s writing far more frequently than they will remember mine.  I guarantee it.

This is ok.  It’s the way it should be.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm and is filed under Right-in, Works. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • piece of the fur-nit-ture wonderful poetic image - and i am sure you were just as mischievous in your own way with your purple car too - we can never compete with kids - so don't try - but we get even or they get even or well maybe or maybe not but then again kids see doors where adults see walls - miss ya - just thought i would see what miscief you are up too -

    be you - say hello to lyrica and lucas for me too

    be you

    g-oh
  • As a dad this makes me want to throw my kids up in the air right now. But it probably wouldn't have the same effect if I disturb them from their slumber to do this. But they do always gravitate toward the adults that throw them up in the air.
  • larzini - thanks for writing that, I'll show the author!

    And who wouldn't want to be thrown up in the air? I wish there were giants for rent to throw me up in the air!

    For all the potential dads out there: Bulk up now. You'll need it. :)

    -PC





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  • I wish I could tell you how happy I am to read this. I'm a pretty good writer, but was the third-best of my siblings. My bother makes his living now with the pen and my sister teaches, so I'm ok with that. But I wasn't ok when my son's third grade teacher said that my son HATES to write and does the bare minimum to get by on writing assignments.

    So we've been working over the last few weeks to get him writing more and improving on quality. It's been a struggle, but it's very gratifying to see the growth.

    I'll look for more from your boy in the future!
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