The other day Huck asked me what I really thought he was going to be when he grew up.  Since I can only picture him as some sort of nuclear atomic liquid nitrogen scientist, which I thought was the plan, I didn’t know what answer he was looking for.  He explained, “Don’t say scientist because that’s what I want to be.  What will I really be?” Somewhere in his almost six year old brain he’s figured out that generally people change their mind on career choice once they grow up.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Meanwhile his new Internet fascination is a website called “The Happy Scientist,” starring the world’s most delightful nerd Robert Krampf.  There really aren’t enough adjectives and verbs to describe how Huck reacts to this man’s experiments, demonstrations and bloopers, but I can say that when Mr. Krampf tries to be funny it’s almost too much for Huck.  He laughs so hard that I fear he might choke to death.  During these moments Troy and I share our now familiar look that says, “Where did he come from?  Who is this child anyway?  Let’s leave him here with these videos and go take a nap.”

Thanks to the Happy Scientist we have learned to appreciate mirages and make our own butter, but most of all he inspires pretend experiments in our kitchen involving white vinegar, vegetable oil, baking soda, food coloring and ice cubes.  And thanks to Huck’s many, many science books we have enjoyed making quick sand, carbon dioxide, and watching hot water blow up a balloon.  Over the winter break we explored the Hall of Science museum and the Intrepid Air and Space Museum where we got to walk through a real submarine and see an AMAZING demonstration starring liquid nitrogen.  We can’t stop talking about it!

Don’t tell Huck, but when I was a kid I hated science.  Now I think I’m going to be a scientist when I grow up.

http://thehappyscientist.com/