I had to take my kids to the dentist with me yesterday. I was having a crown put in, easy as pie, and I did not have any child care. So, off we go.

My son is a brilliant reader and has been most of his life. No "McGuffey's Readers" for this boy. No sir, he goes for primary sources. He taught himself using "Between the Lion's" to learn the rules and "Calvin and Hobbes" as his text. Clearly, Bill Watterson is properly known as the definitive authority on life for an American Boy. My son, no fool, got this right away. But he was four and he has moved on. At five he read his way through all, and I do mean every word, of the Harry Potter's that had been written at the time (through book IV, I think). He reads everything. I have a thick copy of "Smart Medicine for the Healthy Child". He has read all of it many times. He reads text books, comic books, everything.

My daughter is waiting, in the style of her mother, for someone to confer reading ability upon her. She would like to know how to read. She is not ready to commit her self to actual effort. No matter, we are unschoolers and we have plenty of time. (Join me in repeating this to yourself 1000 times a day. Welcome to my world.) She will learn when she is ready to really try. And in the mean time, her brother will generously read a loud.

So here we are in the office. Here is my dentist. The man is older, we don't know each other very well. I am not so certain he has ever heard of homeschooling. He pauses with the pliers, "What nice children. Is school out today? What are you reading there, Son?"

"Zombie Butts From Uranus"

"Huh, and that is for which class?" Clearly disgruntled he picks up the drill and turns toward my exposed tooth stump....