Frankly, it doesn’t take a genius to see how intelligent my children are
DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR A FIRST TIME DAD OF TWINS
“Come and watch Thomas building a café,” Victoria shouted from the lounge/playroom, as I loaded the dishwasher for the second, or even third time that day.
Presumably, this was a café constructed from Lego, but it was worth a look on the off chance he had ambitions beyond plastic blocks.
I trudged through to view his creation and gazed upon a fantastic collection of coordinated coloured blocks, resembling something akin to a Costa.
Thomas was still busy putting the finishing touches to an upstairs seating terrace, guided only by his imagination. It occurred to me he might be an architectural prodigy.
Although he wasn’t alone in his genius. Emma was working on an excellent yet emotionally wounding portrait of me.
Her approach was based on an exaggerated, realistic view of the subject. I had a very large head, dishevelled hair, red nose, dark eyes, and an enormous stomach with very small limbs.
It was a superb piece of work, but she was unlikely to receive any commissions from the aristocracy for portraits. They tend to favour a gentler rendering of their appearance.
Soon I’d drifted into an imaginary world, where once they’d got school out the way, the twins could make their fortune, and I could retire to live in a bungalow on their country estate. The only weakness in my plan was my exposure to the abilities of rival
three-year-olds was limited.
Covid restrictions mean we’ve never really had other children from nursery or little friends from our neighbourhood inside the house, where I could have compared them to my own gifted offspring.
Obviously, I’d assessed Thomas and Emma in relation to others when we’re out in parks and public spaces, but all that’s told me is they all like ice cream, slides and running away from their parents.
And grandparents are unable to provide an objective opinion on their grandchildren’s abilities as a structural engineer or an artist.
I’d be very surprised if my mum pointed out Emma can’t draw hands and Thomas lacks vision with his seating arrangements.
Naturally, I’m already biased because they’re genetically 50% me. So why wouldn’t I look upon them favourably?
But the one thing that will always skew my objectivity is, I clearly remember them not being able to do much more than lie in their cots. What could be more brilliant than seeing them develop into proper people?