Many Gods, Many Children      Why are there many Gods?  (As if we'd know!)  But assuming that these beings are so much greater than us-as they are-then why need there be more than one (or three or four for that matter)?      One of the things the Gods do is offer patterns for us--perfect patterns of behaviour.  An interesting thing to note is that the gods are not the same-they have very different personalities.  They are all deities, yet different.  Not to belabor an obvious point, but this may need pointing out in today's day and age:  they have not, in order to be Gods, needed to conform to one pattern;  nor yet is the idea that there can only be one perfect thing.  There are, in fact, many different perfections to be achieved-many paths.  How clearly this diversity is shown in all of life.  Is there only one flower?  One kind of dog?  Indeed, one form of life?      Another thing to notice, amongst the living things is that the "higher" the life form, the greater the individual variations.  One could say that a large part of personality lies in these variations, which is why we say a horse or a dog or a dolphin has more personality than a plant.  And even within say, dogs, there are different breeds with different propensities, yet none are inherently better than another.  Now granted, there are people who apparently feel that within breeds, there is one best-but I don't agree, and think this has led to pernicious breeding practices in many places.  And I don't think many dog owners would be willing to say that their dear furry friend is truly inferior to some other dog, no matter what some judge has said.  There own personalities are far too clear and dearly important.      Apparently, then, higher ability to function and perform does not equal less personality and variation, but greater.  And apparently this principle holds even up to the level of the Gods.  Many people for a long time (millenia!) have posited that there is only one correct pattern or form for humans, one way to be "best".  This is linked either to monotheism's having one god, or to humanism's survival of the fittest concept.   But we can see that this is flawed reasoning in the case of all other living beings-and the Gods have attempted to make it clear that it is not accurate with them.  Then it cannot be accurate with us.      If there is no one best personality, no one best type of person, if all this personal variation is not only expected and normal, but somehow inherently needful--then why must every child read at 6?  Why must all sit quietly for the same length of time?  Or have a 20 word vocabulary by twenty months?  Children come with radically different personalities-and all of them are normal and acceptable.  And none are necessarily better than another;  no matter how high they rise, they do not need to become other than they basically are, just more truly themselves, and perhaps find the perfect match for their abilities.       So if your boy is a little intellectual, or an adventurer, or even a fighter-it's ok.  Some children are easier in certain circumstances--imagine a little fighter in a waiting room or an adventurer in a store-or handle certain situations better than others,  that's all.  When raising your children, as at all other times, put your trust in the Gods--not the latest 'skills check list' or 'developmental timeline'. © 2007 Oak Hedge Homeschool Home