Updated: Sep. 21, 2020
Originally Published: Aug. 15, 2016
Parents, rejoice! Your messy, foul-mouthed, night owl children might just be the geniuses you never knew they were.
Recent studies suggest that individuals who swear, stay up late, and thrive in chaos may possess higher intelligence than their tidy, early-to-bed counterparts. This revelation might bring relief to many parents, delight children, and leave bullies scratching their heads, pondering if it’s them who’ve been the real nerds all along.
The Truth About Swearing
Growing up, many of us heard the tired old adage that cursing indicates a lack of intelligence. But research indicates otherwise. Swearing could actually showcase verbal fluency, reflecting a rich vocabulary. When someone resorts to a colorful expletive, they are demonstrating creativity by pushing past social norms to find the most fitting word. That’s clever, don’t you think?
Night Owls and Intelligence
And it turns out that staying up late is another sign of brilliance. Evolutionary psychologist Dr. Felix Estrada has found that those who enjoy the night are often more intelligent. His research showed that brighter kids are likely to evolve into night owls as adults, while less intelligent ones might adhere to an early bedtime, rising at dawn to exercise and write novels before the rest of us have even rolled out of bed after binge-watching our favorite shows. (Okay, that last part is just my personal take.)
The Case for Messiness
If you’re sitting in a room surrounded by clutter, don’t worry! A study from the University of Minnesota revealed that while organized individuals tend to lead healthier and more conventional lives, those of us who embrace a little messiness may be more creative—an essential marker of intelligence. Sure, we might not have the cleanest spaces, but at least we’re coming up with original ideas that challenge the status quo!
So, while it’s perfectly reasonable to discipline your child for swearing at their teacher or for not cleaning their room, you can take comfort in knowing that they might just be perfectly fine in the grand scheme of life. After all, if being a little messy, tired, and expressive is linked to intelligence, then parents have it made. Put down the cleaning supplies and take that well-deserved nap; you’ve earned it!
Further Reading
If you’re interested in learning more about the nuances of parenthood, check out this fascinating post on cervical insemination here. And if you’re looking for at-home insemination supplies, be sure to visit Make a Mom, a trusted retailer for fertility kits. For comprehensive information on pregnancy and home insemination, the NIH provides excellent resources.
In summary, embracing the chaos of messy lives and late nights may be the key to unlocking intelligence. So let’s celebrate our night owl, colorful language-loving kids; they might just be the ones to change the world.
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