Gotta love these questions

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My 8 year old Aspie says this to me today:

"Daddy what level of magnification does a microscope need for me to see blood cells? Which one should we get?"

Me: "400 times magnification should be good."

Him: "Impossible! A blood cell is 25,000 times smaller than a grain of table salt. How is a microscope that magnifies 400 times going to be sufficient?"

Me: "uuhhhh ...."

Every day is interesting if not humbling lol.

I don't get it.

Your kid sounds adorable.

hahaha...you better start studying up so you can keep up with him!

I'll break it down.

1. A microscope is desired.
2. The son and the parent are discussing which one to get.
3. The son asks what they should get to see red blood cells.
4. 400x magnification is suggested.
5. The son says that that would be insufficient, as red blood cells are 25,000 times smaller than a grain of salt.
6. The suggested microscope would make them appear 62.5 times smaller than a grain of salt, which is still too small for human eyes to see.
7. The child pointed that out.
8. The parent feels humbled by the child's knowledge.

With the most important part being the child is eight!

Most eight year olds are barely learning single digit multiplication and would not be capable of pointing out any of the facts. ( size of the blood cell or the math required to figure out what would be sufficient).

Great aspie example of how awesome our kids are and how important it is not to allow the day to day challenges to dampen their spirits.

I can so relate.

The other morning as I was getting ready for work, my 6 year old was reading a book on DNA.

Me - How's the book?
Her - I dunno. Pretty good.

Later

Her - I have a new project. I'm going to do a new project today.
Me - That's nice. What's your project?
Her - It's a science project. My book tells me how to do it. It's cloning. I'm going to clone the dog.
Me - Do you want me to get anything for that, or do you have all the supplies you need?
Her - I need those little straw things (pipettes) and some petri dishes.
Me - I can get that at work for you. Let me know if you need anything else.


Later

Her - I need male chromosomes. Can Alex come over for a play date so I can take his chromosomes?

Me - If his mother says it's ok.
Her - good!

Later

Her - I need a womb. You need a womb for an environment to clone in.
Me - Do you know what a womb is.
Her - I think females have them. Do you have one?
Me - yes.
Her - Can I borrow your womb to clone the dog?

So, PenguinMom?

Are you having puppies or what?

My son wants to clone himself and is still upset that I did not have a twin. My womb is out of service .

Made me laugh and smile. Your kids sound amazing and adorable, Penguin Mom and Silas.
My 4 1/2 year old is obsessed with his brain--well, the brain in general. Everything he learns he turns into a 'project'. His favorite word. So I wonder if I can expect him to be researching attempting brain surgery when he's 8. Love these kids.

I'm trying to convince my daughter to consult with me before she does an experiment so I can avoid an unauthorized skylight.

My son wants to be a vampire!

lol, Annmaria. Maybe one day he'll be a phlebotomist. My son wants to be a ninja. It has been his one and only answer for about 6 months. I think the whole 'masked face' and quiet, hidden, secretive, in the dark, nature of ninjas is appealing to him.