Eric’s parents and grandfather have done just as much to support Johann in his scientific interests as Eric and I have. Without their help, I wouldn’t be able to homeschool Johann as easily and Eric wouldn’t be going back to school, which has also furthered Johann’s education when Eric brings new ideas and knowledge home to share. Eric’s grandfather and parents also gave Johann a microscope and sets of pre-made slides for Christmas last year, which we have definitely put to good use.
You might think, so what? That’s what families are there for. Well, not necessarily. Sometimes families can fail you, which is why we are so grateful for the support we get from Eric’s family. It definitely helps to know there is someone you can count on when things get tough. What surprises me is newfound support that has come from a place we didn’t expect.
Johann hard at work collecting organisms from a sediment sample at one of the labs
We’ve been told before by people that they’ve never seen a kid so turned on to science as Johann is. Certain key people at Avery Point have noticed Johann’s enthusiasm too. Two weeks ago this became even more clear to me. Noreen, one of the lab managers at Avery Point, asked us in so that Johann could work on the microscope again. He’s been helping answer their research question: Has recent pipe work on the ocean floor at the location they are studying adversely affected the benthic creatures there? They are testing the biomass of the worm population. If the worms, as the lowest life form there, are affected, then organisms further up the food chain will also be affected. The oyster farmers want to know.
So Johann has had the chance to pick out worms from their sediment samples and help them get a little further along, while gaining a wonderful experience. Noreen even bought Johann a composition notebook to use as his laboratory notebook and wrote his name on it. She keeps it in a drawer for him, so it is there when he goes in to help and wants to make a note or a drawing of what he sees under the microscope. The lead scientist loved the idea of Johann being in his lab to help and gave Noreen permission to have Johann there as often as she could.
After Johann’s lab time, we were invited to a friend’s defense. We had just finished telling Johann he wasn’t allowed to ask questions, because this was a Master’s defense and the rules were that we three were just supposed to sit and listen. Then Dr. Shumway came over and told Johann that she expected him to ask a question, so he must think of a good one. She said she wanted everyone there to see the great minds that are coming behind them.
Johann, with Eric’s help, thought of an appropriate question, which our friend politely answered. Afterward, both Dr. Bohlen and Dr. Ward came over to Johann to talk to him and give him more information about his question. Johann got two mini science lessons right there in the reception area from the two top research scientists and professors. They both looked very proud of Johann and seemed excited about his interest. They usually stop and chat with him whenever they see us at Avery Point. Even if they are in a hurry, they still take a few minutes to connect with Johann and encourage him.
It’s not always easy, but I’m glad I chose to stay home with Johann and homeschool him. He would be so unhappy in public school and he certainly wouldn’t be learning science the way he is now. Whenever I’m unsure of how effective I’m being, I think about the support we have and all the compliments Eric and I both get from the professors and graduate students at Avery Point. They recognize what we are doing and see how Johann is absorbing it all. They see his potential too. Sometimes I think they are hoping that they will one day have Johann in one of their classes as an undergraduate.
