Some days I feel like I cheated on a test to get into this family.
As it often does, the conversation at dinner last night went something* like this:
. . . . .
Small Man: I was thinking, if there is an atom with two electrons in its outer shell and another atom with three electrons passes near it, will it lose one electron to the first atom?
Big Boy: No, because then it would be unbalanced again, so it wouldn’t work like that. Have you been learning chemistry at school?
Small Man: No, I’ve been reading about it in a book. We haven’t done chemistry in science yet.
Small Man: Also, about organic chemistry – you know how life forms are carbon-based…do you think it’s possible for there to be life forms that are based on another element?
Pete: The reason carbon is important is because it readily forms compounds with a range of other elements and the possible combinations of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are practically limitless and the complexity of these molecules makes it possible for them to act as locks and keys and catalysts for complex interactions.
Small Man: do you think it’s possible for there to be silicon based lifeforms?
Pete: Some people have written papers on that – they think because silicon can behave in a similar way to carbon that it might be possible, yes.
Small Man: do you think that’s how they came up with the idea in Star Trek?
. . . . .
Sigh…
Over the past fortnight, they’ve discussed supercluster galaxies, communism and the Cold War, the physics behind Green Lantern’s power ring, the chemical structures of noble gases, the use of gyroscopes in rocket guidance systems, and whether or not Schrödinger had an invisible cat.
I can remember a time when the conversation at dinner centered around why Toby the Tram Engine needed a cowcatcher.
I could contribute to the discussion back then, without sounding like a git.
Now I just smile serenely and listen to the three of them in awe.
* Please don’t leave a comment to tell me that the science is wrong – I did my best to remember what was said, but I was having trouble keeping up. Oh, and I know Schrödinger didn’t have an invisible cat – I just put that in to annoy Pete.
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Love this post (even though I am a carbon-based life form).
Emily, our friend David tells me we’re all made of stardust…exactly as the Joni Mitchell song says.. :)
We are stardust…we are golden…billion year old carbon
And we’ve got to get ourselves…back to the garden
Hey, I’ll bet the guys are in the dark when it comes to the secrets of sourdough and tempering chocolate – and that’s science too! Truth is, there’s just too much stuff to learn now – who can even know more than a tiny bit?
Doc, yes, I’ve tried telling them there’s science there too, but only Pete is really interested. :)
At least you don’t have arguments at mealtimes. My lot ‘discuss’ politics – Hubs is becoming a staid conservative as he gets older, CT is staunchly left wing and FB is a feminist – can you imagine the result?
As you say – it’s a far cry from Thomas the Tank Engine, and persuading them to eat their vegetables! ;)
Suelle, that sounds like a recipe for some very volatile dinner discussions! Do you try and mediate, or just let them at it?
I do miss the Thomas the Tank Engine years… ;-)
I wish I could send them all to their rooms and leave me to eat in peace! LOL!
I got a small glimpse into my future reading this. I had a conversation with my big girl (3yrs) the other day about why the moon appeared in a different part of the sky at different times of the day. While I was trying to explain fairly simply to her that the earth spins, she correctly suggested that perhaps the earth moved AND the moon moved. In the mean time however, my small girl (1yr) was eating snails :)
Pam, if you have an iPod Touch or an iPhone there is a wonderful app you can buy called StarWalk which will show you all the phases of the moon on a given day and exactly where all the stars are in the sky. I wrote it up here a while ago – great stuff!
What a smart 3 year old you have! And a gourmet foodie already in the little one! :)
Wonderful! It must be a complete joy for you to see the boys growing with such sharp minds and curiosity about things! You and your hubby are doing an amazing job raising them, it’s obvious!
ask if they want to visit our lab one day… I can make a bacteria fluorescent in bright green colors, and a few more tricks they might like to see ;-)
Sally, they would LOVE that! Thank you! :)
Brian says, ‘What’s Toby doing on there’ ? The trick with science for the non scientists is to read those magazines like New Scientist which present potted versions of newish stuff and sometimes you get a little flashlet of understanding. I remember something called Heisenberg’s Principle of Uncertainty (the one about how a poodle shouldn’t be able to be in two places at the same time – forget that cat) and the business about the wavicles.. and the Second Law of Thermodynamics (all cake gets eaten ultimately). Lovely funny post darling!
I’ve always been too scared to pick up the New Scientist, but I’ll have to make sure I do from now on. I think Heisenberg had some air time at the dinner table recently .. :)
You can be extra proud of your smart boys Celia. Think I would have to take notes spending an evening around the dinner table with them.
:-) Mandy
Mandy, thank you – I am very proud of them, but mostly because they’re so curious and fascinated with the world. Thank goodness Pete and Big Boy can still field Small Man’s million questions!
Good genes, those lads have :)
Cindy, thank you! All three of them are very kind to me, even though I can’t keep up.. :)
Crikey, that’s awesome!
Thanks Kavey, I think so. I just sit there and listen to them bouncing off each other in amazement…
Good grief!! I got lost after the first couple of words. Just as well sombeody understands this stuff. I can make a dress.
Yes you can, darling. And win a whole swag of awards for it. :)
you have the future movers and shakers of the scientific community eating at your table every day..you must both be so proud..jane
Jane, I don’t know about that, but I do know they have inquiring and curious minds, and that’s what really makes me happy! :)
Wow, I was completely confused almost immediately! I think we’re heading there, as well, as my four-year-old already has a much bigger knowledge of dinosaurs and construction vehicles than I ever will! (Our dinner conversation sounds something like, “Hey, did you like the new bulldozer Daddy found in his old toys?” “That’s an excavator, not a bulldozer, Mom.”) I am totally impressed with your guys. =)
Abby, oh how I miss the dinosaur phase! We went through that too – and I think we still have the models stashed away somewhere… :)
Poor old Celia! I guess that you’re faking it cause those boys get half their carbon based genes from you too. But I know how you feel, Dr Karl is on the ipad in the car, and blows were almost exhanged last week over theories as to who would be most right- if they were realities, and all we watch is documentaries or the Big Bang Theory after dinner. Littlej is still determined to be Astronaut when she grows up, but Mummy is happy being a Gastronaut- and if you bring me Schrodingers cat I’ll stick that damn thing in a pot and cook it!
Big Bang is the favourite around here too, Becca! :)
Sigh, we used to get complicated maths discussions at dinner that I couldn’t follow – at least this year with HSC girl studying all humanities I get a look in!! Lovely, lovely post :-)
Clare, I couldn’t keep up with HSC English either! Small Man had to read Animal Farm recently – hence the discussion on communism and the cold war – and everyone’s had an opinion on that! ;-)
(As I write, little lad is watching Thomas the Tank engine and playing with his train set.) I think it’s important to remember that we played a big part in getting them to this point, and if we catch ourselves feeling a bit dim (that is frequently for me, with a husband who is a walking encyclopaedia and dictionary) we should concentrate on our wonderful achievements elsewhere…in the kitchen, in the art studio, in the garden, for example…
What an amazing family you have Celia!
Vix, you’re very kind to try to reassure me, but honestly, I’ve never felt insecure about not keeping up with them. I think that’s all because of Pete, who is never condescending, even when I go on about Schrodinger’s invisible cat. Dinner is always a time of great affection and laughter, and the boys are very appreciative of the things I can do. And if my eyes do gloss over when the conversation gets complicated, there’s only ever very good natured teasing that ensues.. :)
The hero in this story is you Celia! Creating a space where people sit around the dinner table having profound conversations for no other reason than that they are interesting is a superpower.
Linda, thank you! That’s exactly what they do – have profound conversations simply because they’re interested in things! (I think we’ll be talking about microbats tonight, after the photo on your blog yesterday!)
if it makes you feel any better I had a discussion with my 7 year old boy about plasma bottles (oh the plasma as in a state of matter not the blood kind) and if they really could hold a piece of the sun on the way to school. Damn Autobots ;)
Oh your turn is so coming, Moo. Mind you, you’re more than up for it! :)
Having been a fascinated viewer of the wonderful alchemy you create in your kitchen I am not surprised by the fascinating conversations your dinner table engenders! (But I would be tempted to sit there wearing a pair of those funny glasses where they have eye balls on springs:)
Jan, no funny glasses, but I have on occasion wanted to clap my hands to my ears and sing, “la la la la la”… :)
Lovely, lovely! Did your men watch the show on the Universe the other night on ABC? I agree with Linda – you are absolutely the star in this picture!! :)
Chris, thank you! No, didn’t watch the show, but we’ll look out for it, thanks for the headsup! :)
This was so nice to read.
The dinner table with all around her makes a meal nourishing in all ways..
Craig
Craig, thank you. Can’t wait until you’re back and we can have you over again for a meal! :)
Haha well I don’t know which one I would feel more out of depth in, this conversation or a sporting one! :P
If the topic gets onto sport, my eyes really glaze over! :)
Hahaha…. Very amusing. You poor thing having to sit through that. What happens if you try to change the subject?
Hehehe…why would I want to do that? I get to learn something new almost every meal time! :)
I totally subscribe to the invisible cat theory. :-) Our conversations are more about mortise and tenon neck joints for ukeleles and the theme to Starcraft in the Japanese opera version of the commercial. Aren’t dinner tables a bit of heaven?
Maz
Yep, they’re a gift from God! I’m not surprised to hear there are fascinating discussions at your dinner table too, Maz! :)
I read every word – and like you, keeping quiet would seem the best choice :)
Tandy, I do a lot of nodding.. ;-)
I think the only thing I would be able to contribute to that conversation would be to smile politely and probably emit a nervous giggle.
Dinner conversations are still prodominantly in the Thomas field round here, although Monkey Boy is really starting to ask some curly questions, thank god for trusty google…and Mr Chocolate!
We’re lucky to have husbands who can field the tricky questions, Brydie! And google and wikipedia! ;-)
Very impressive dinner conversations!
Thanks Cosmo, means a lot coming from you! :)
That is some dinner conversation!
Mrs Bok, it’s so varied – last night’s discussion was on how the special effects in the latest Captain America movie were done.. ;-)
The only thing I’m certain of (other than Heisenberg being the most profound of the Copenhagen School) is that you’re doing a wonderful job of parenting. I’m nearly certain that was the only conversation of its type at any family dinner table last night.
Thanks dearheart, that is very reassuring coming from someone who’s known the kids since they were born! :)
Buy them a professor Brian Cox DVD. And remember that his wife says he’s a nerd.
Peter, we like nerds at our place! :)
Hahahaha…bazinga ;) You do know what this means, right? You’ll just have to come over and hang out with our lot a bit more; we can bake, paint, braid each others’ hair, do our nails… :P
Yeah, yeah, I know, I should have had a girl or two.. ;-)
Celia-
I read your post with smiles and remembered the many texts of philosophy, religion and now law that I’ve read to keep up with the very thread of conversation! I think I’ve taken courses in everything my sons have and some my nieces have too!
No one is very interested is my area of interests past eating it or a quick read- but then- I wanted them to go in their directions, anyway!
You are the mother that they need to fuel their discussions with your interest( even when your eyes glaze over)- I’m sure they like to break it down a little so you can keep up!
I now know more about certain aspects of the law than I ever wanted to- and J is only at the end of his second year. :)
Heidi, they’re remarkably non-condescending. I just love listening to the banter – almost nothing makes me happier.
In the car a few weeks ago, I heard this from the backseat..
SM: Why is the temperature on Venus hotter than on Mercury, if Mercury is closer to the sun?
BB: Good question! It has to do with the atmosphere on Venus trapping the heat in…Mercury doesn’t have an atmosphere, and therefore…
:)
Priceless. I will be much more grateful and a lot less irritated when my teen (girls) have conversations about Justin Bieber and MCR.
Sally, you made me smile – the only time I mentioned Justin Bieber, Small Man said, “who?”. :)
We are fans of the CSIRO’s ‘Science by email’ that you can subscribe to – lots of cool, topical science stuff explained clearly! (and super-cool ‘experiments’ to do, too… we are thinking of having a Mad Science birthday party for our eldest one year)
Thank you – we’ll check it out! :)
You guys are like the Big Bang Theory series :)
Hahaha, occasionally it feels like that! :)
Hey Celia,
My 15yr old has resorted to grunting most days – but hey, it could be some ancient dialect and i should be proud! While the younger knows everything there needs to be known about starwars and the planets. How I crave some down to earth dinner conversation – maybe I should feed them more sourdough!?
Cheers :)
Oh and nerds rule!!
Lisa, they do! :)
Great post..thanks for thesmile. I needed to smile.