Dad, Can We Do Science?

My son, Walker (see above really cute photo of a very blond haired child) loves to do science - at least that’s what he calls it. I’ll come home from work and he will immediately ask, “Dad, can we do science?”- It is hard for me to not hear “Dad, can we make a mess?” The most recent “science experiment” he wanted to do was to put his hand in water with food coloring and then smack it on a sheet of paper.

We’ve tried to have the conversation about what “science” means. I’ve tried to explain that science is our way of finding ourselves in the world and learning how the world works. I don’t think he cares. He wants the outcome. And honestly, I get it. I even asked ChatGPT to write this blog for me. Here’s what I got:

My kid's love for science not only reflects our collective thirst for knowledge and discovery but also serves as a profound inspiration within our family. From a tender age, their profound fascination with the intricate workings of the natural world has been both apparent and heartwarming. Through the exploration of hands-on experiments and an insatiable curiosity that manifests in endless questions, they exemplify the very essence of the human desire to comprehend the enigmas of our universe. Witnessing this innate passion for learning instills in us a sense of comfort and optimism, as it foretells a future brimming with boundless opportunities for enlightenment and personal development.

Thanks ChatGPT. It’s cute and all but it misses the point. It misses the intricacies of him WANTING to spend time with me. The nuisances of a son waiting for his dad to come home from work, a dad tired from an hour commute drive, and a house that is already a mess and needs a clean, not more chaos. I may want just the outcome, like what Walker wants when he “does science”, but I can’t just ChatGPT it.

This is what learning looks like in an interdependent, shared environment. It takes time, patience, and might be messy (hopefully includes some fun too) but in the end is worth the outcome.