Help from a one-year-old

I am reading a book about concentrated work, while spending a few days with my one-year-old granddaughter.  The author of the book assumes that our main distraction from "deep" work is the internet; the author doesn't much talk about family distractions.

Well, the irony is not lost on me.  Distractions abound.  I remember from my early days of child-rearing those amazing blessings of nap-time, and I get to re-live those blessings with my granddaughter.  Naptime is when I diligently packed some good math work into my day.  Reading I can do with interruptions, even when the book is about avoiding distractions.

Still, I took time away from the book to put the kiddo to work in the garden with me.  (This reminded me of my dad once exclaiming about my nephew, "No fair!  Andrew helped me yesterday, too!)



But our host daughter, Y, who is studying for the MCATs, did indeed click with Baby-A.  Y explained what she knew about alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay to a rapt and dedicated audience.

Y tells me it's nice to have an audience with intent focus; when she tries to explain chemistry to Miser Dog, Miser Dog doesn't make eye contact and babble back.