Do girls like prodigies?

Today, a searcher arrived on my blog, from Ontario, California, with the search term: “Do girls like prodigy?”

At first, I read this as a means to ask whether child prodigies were attractive to girls. Then I realized it could be referring to the band, Prodigy. However, the question itself reminded me of something I have noticed on the Internet: the idolization of Ainan.

I have, at times, stumbled on blogs, on the net, particularly ones that call attention to themselves by linking to my blog which have something most distinctive about them. It might seem strange to tell of it, but some of them, are a shrine to Ainan. Indeed, I have seen some which explicitly call Ainan, “my idol” – and liberally use his name on the site, referring to him repeatedly. It should be noted that these fans of Ainan are engaging in age appropriate behaviour, since they are usually quite near his age: around 10 to 12 years old, so I have no worries on that account. Yet, it did surprise me, to find such sites. They wrote of Ainan much as young girls write of pop stars or film stars: with great adulation, admiration and a definite sense of longing.

I have seen other references to Ainan that are not so appropriate however. I have seen adult females express the thought: “I can’t wait to see him in 10 years time.”, or “He will be such a looker when he grows up.” Though he is but a child, they are already assessing him as a potential “hunk”.

However, all of this does suggest that the answer to the searcher’s question, as I first read it, is a big “YES!”, girls do like prodigies - or at least one prodigy, in particular.

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The life of Reilly

"The life of Reilly" was a phrase not infrequently uttered when I was growing up. Today, the phrase came to mind on hearing of Fintan's latest antics.

Fintan had gone to a kids party, in the run up to Christmas. Like many a kid of his age (four) he is rather fond of cars. So, on spotting a car, he duly hopped into it, raring to go. Unfortunately, cars fit for four year olds happen to come without engines. So, there he was, sitting in his car, wanting to race around, but without any horsepower to do so.

The situation didn't last long. He may have lacked a car engine, but he didn't lack the kind of appeal that commonly goes with an impressive sports car: within seconds four girls of his own age volunteered to help him. They gathered as one behind his car and began to push him around the house, while he steered.

It was very funny to see how he solved the problem of no engine. He got himself an engine, Fintan-style - in the shape of four helpful young ladies.

They tirelessly pushed him around the party until he had had his fill of driving.

Thank you, girls, for giving Fintan such a welcome. Merry Xmas to you all.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged eight years and no months, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, four years and five months, and Tiarnan, twenty-two months, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, gifted adults and gifted children in general. Thanks.)

The Chemistry of Charisma

Eight days ago, I saw something both sweet and surprising.

I had brought Ainan to the playground where we live and, instead of playing with the other kids he had set about doing an experiment with the materials to hand in the park area, next to the swings.

Studiously, he attended to the details of his work. I didn't approach closer to see what exactly he was doing, but I knew him well enough to understand that it was The Great Experimenter at work on some investigation or other.

He never looked up once to see what the other kids were up to in the playground, but focussed on his craft. Yet, I was touched to see that, after a few minutes alone with his project, a blond German girl, of the same age as him, left the playground and her friends, to join him. I could see him explain to her what he was doing - and then she began to assist him. The two worked together quite amiably, Ainan quietly directing her efforts. She was still there half an hour later.

It was sweet to see that though he had made no effort to do so, his intensity had drawn the girl to him. There is something charismatic in his manner, that even a young girl can see across a crowded playground.

I think sincerity of purpose is attractive to people of all ages: it has a charisma all of its own - and Ainan has it in plenty. I didn't approach them for fear of disturbing the sense of unity they had achieved, but watched from afar.

It was a beautiful sunset, with my son, at play.