Tag Archive for Maggie Preller

OVERHEARD: “I guess science is my favorite class — I just wish it wasn’t so serious.”

Lisa had asked Maggie, grade 6, about her classes and received the above reply. Which at first struck me as a hilarious thing to say about science. It was like saying, I don’t know, math should be funnier. Social studies, sillier!

But then I realized she might be onto something. When we think of our science teachers, most of them are dry, dull, strict. This is science, this is important: this is serious business!

And in fairness, it often is, kids can get hurt, things might explode.

But then there are those rare science teachers — and scientists like Bill Nye, on television — who bring the joy of discovery into the process. Or should I say, keep the joy. The wonder.

They find the fun and the funny. Like a child with a new toy, figuring out what makes it go. Discovering the awesomeness of it all.

On Facebook I “liked” a site called, “I Love F***ing Science.” I’ve always regretted the F***ing in that title because it makes it harder for me to share with others, especially anyone who might read my books.

This post reflects a few things I’ve picked up from there, and other places.

Just trying to bring the fun, Maggie. I’m glad you like science.

Overheard: “Hey, Dad, when I’m 18, I want to get a tattoo of a cat on my stomach.” (Parenting a Middle Schooler, pt. 3)

I am sitting in the living room in early evening, reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. Maggie, my 6th-grader, is doing handstands not five feet away — because that is what Maggie does these days, continual handstands. Every day, all day.

Maggie: “When I’m 18, I want to get a tattoo of a cat on my stomach.”

Dad: “Oh?”

Maggie: “Yeah, except I want my belly button to be the cat’s butt.”

Dad: “Is that so?”

Maggie: “Wait, I’ll draw you a picture!”

And she does.

Cross-Eyed Maggie: Same Photo, Reenacted

This is one of my all-time favorite photos of Maggie, here with her good friend Zoe (left). Taken some time ago in Cape Cod, I believe. These two hooligans have been hanging around with each other since Year One, and they are still nothing but trouble.

Zoe’s mom put together a quick reenactment, which is pretty funny if you ask me. It might be cool to really go all out with the details, really try to nail this thing . . . but that would require effort. Maybe when they hit High School in three years we can do it all over again.

Overheard: Maggie comments on the interior design of Chipotle

I know: I said I wasn’t posting until 2012. And that’s still totally true! Except . . . that Maggie just said another one and I had to get it down on paper. Or something like that.

Anyway, my two boys, Nick and Gavin, love Chipotle; it’s their idea of fine dining, competing only with the Five Guys burger chain for favorite fast food dispensary. Maggie, unlike her neanderthal brothers, has far more refined taste. She won’t eat fast food under any circumstances. But while we were out shopping yesterday, Gavin, Maggie, and I ducked into Chipotle for a quick bite, despite Maggie’s protests.

Maggie sniffed and observed, “It looks like a really fancy version of a prison cafeteria.”

I don’t know. I think maybe she nailed it.

But what is my eleven-year-old daughter doing in prison cafeterias? Anyway, after these guys sat down, we knew it was time to leave.

Photo

My youngest turns eleven tomorrow. I came across this old photo of us, probably about seven years ago. A certain kind of guy might even get a little weepy looking at it.

Happy birthday, Mags.