Shoud I be proud or mortified?

[gracemargaret]

My dd1 (7) recently announced on a crowded train, whilst reading a newspaper, "Mummy...look! I can't believe it - they've missed out an apostrophe to show possession in this sentence. How can a journalist, who actually gets paid to write articles, make such a basic error? It's a disgrace!"

She said this in a very loud voice with a genuine expression of disgust. I think I made a beetroot look anaemic!

Wow, you should definitely be proud to have such an articulate and intelligent 7 year old. I understand why you were mortified but think about it. Would it be better for her to learn that she should conceal her intelligence?

Be proud! I've just marked a university essay which says 'xxx would of done so-and-so, if blah blah blah'. Then read dd1's 'hobby diary' (she's keeping it for a Brownie badge) in which she wrote (about a pony): 'Did I say feet? I should have said hoves [sic]'. So, OK, she can't spell hooves, but she can punctuate and she knows that it's 'should have'. She is 7 too.

?????