What Would You Do??

I had to strangest thing happen to me today. I arrived early to pick up Em at her camp today and ran into a parent who has her youngest child in Em's class and her middle daughter was in preschool with Kt. I asked her if her older daughter was finishing up second grade as Kt did today. She replied with this long story about her daughter is soooo smart that she skipped a grade. She apparently tested out of math and reading and they keep sending her ahead because she's just brilliant. Today, she supposedly finished fourth grade!!

Now, my wheels were turning at this point. We specifically held Kt back because we felt socially and emotionally she needed to be with kids more her age. At the time, the cut off birthdate was still December 31 and her birthday was December 31. Having been a first grade teacher, I knew firsthand how older young children (K-1st grade) can be very advanced academically and sometimes even socially, but when they later get to second or third grade, things begin to catch up with them, and in high school, they have friends who are all driving, allowed to date, etc. We just wanted her to be the older crowd, not the younger, and in our county she has benefited from advanced classes within her grade, so we weren't holding her back academically at all.

I wondered, when this mom was telling me how amazingly smart her little girl was, would I want my 7/8 year old with fourth graders?? Would I want my 9 year old heading off to middle school??? It struck me as odd, but I didn't ask any of these questions. I just let it slide and mentioned how Kt was just finishing up second grade. She then went on to tell me that her youngest, in Em's class, was also brilliant, that she would checking into getting her into a K-1st grade combination class because she already knows all her multiplication facts!! I'm thankful I didn't have to scrape my jaw off the floor in front of her!! I'm lucky if I can get Em to count to 20 for me, forget about multiplication!! Wow - I didn't know whether to be impressed or completely confused. I mean, I've never heard of a "combination class" outside of private schools around here, certainly not in our county public schools.

So, the story get worse from here. Later today I took the girls to the pool where I saw another mom from Kt's preschool. She and I see each other at Curves occasionally, so we keep in touch a bit. I also knew that her daughter and the girl from above go to the same elementary school. Of course, more out of marvel than anything else, I asked this mom if she remembered this girl. She did, and then mentioned to me that she was in her daughter's second grade class this year. I must have turned white because she gave a funny look and asked why? I'm not really sure what I said at that point, but I told her what had just happened and she said she was not surprised, that this mom lives in a "grandiose world." I was thinking more like a hallucinogenic world! I never even suspected that she was not being honest with me!!

I must say, I've never had such a strange thing happen to me as a mother flat out lying to my face about how amazing their child is. Why would anyone do that? This woman did not miss a beat when she was talking to me, she never flinched, totally matter-of-fact with me. And today, on her daughter's last day of second grade. I am thinking there might be some kind of mental illness. Of course, we were the only two parents there until my other friend arrived. I can't remember how much of the conversation she overheard. But I guess this mom could always claim that she never said it.

Which brings me to my dilemma. Tomorrow is Em's last day at camp. It culminates with a family picnic, to which all the siblings are invited. I'm wondering if this woman will bring her second grade daughter who just finished "fourth grade" and knows Kt. What do I say? or do? How do I even act knowing what I now know?? Or do I just avoid her altogether? I have no interest in "exposing" anyone or even embarrassing her or her daughter, so I'm guessing I'll likely just avoid her altogether, but that just seems so unsocial. What would you do?