--- title: The Great Experiment description: Her daughter's enthusiasm for science class reminds Nicole Johnson how, like a great teacher, God loves us and expects the best from us. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20221212%20NJohnson%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/the-great-experiment#) [FAITH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) # The Great Experiment Dec 12, 2022 8:30:00 AM  |  by [Nicole Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/nicole-johnson) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20221212%20NJohnson%201.png) *Her daughter's enthusiasm for science class reminds Nicole Johnson how, like a great teacher, God loves us and expects the best from us.* --- They have learned how to remove the S from a Skittle and the M from an M&M, and in what temperature water an Alka-Seltzer tablet will stop bubbling the fastest. I refer to them as the two little mad scientists: my daughter, her classmate and the two extra chromosomes between them that make handing over a glass of water and an Alka-Seltzer tablet an act of immense trust that things will go as planned. I’d love nothing more than to be a fly on the wall of that classroom. To the casual observer, the mad scientists in the corner might not make much of an impression. To this mama, however, it’s a beautiful and somewhat astounding thing. My daughter follows directions, makes observations, and absorbs enough of the process that she can share the results with us over dinner.   ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20221212%20NJohnson%203.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20221212%20NJohnson%203.png)   I’ve never questioned my daughter's potential to do these things. The same understanding, however, is not always found in those unfamiliar with Down syndrome and the incredible individuals living with—not defined by—the diagnosis. I am profoundly grateful to her science teacher for believing these two young ladies deserve and have the potential to learn and thrive. If you ask my daughter what her favorite part of the school day was, she answers science class—every time. Each day when she enters that classroom, she does so with genuine excitement for what is to come and trusts that whatever her teacher puts in front of her will be something she can tackle and feel good about when all the steps have been followed and observations have been made. My girl loves nothing more than to live up to a challenge and grab the opportunity to shine.   ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20221212%20NJohnson%202.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20221212%20NJohnson%202.png) > [Click to tweet: > The birth of Christ should bring renewed excitement for the gift of being unconditionally loved. #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/Q9Sfu) The season of Advent, this time of preparation and anticipation, is an opportunity for all of us to be reminded that someone believes in us and of us much is expected. It’s so easy to be swept up in the excitement of the commercialized season and forget what it is we are really celebrating. The birth of Christ should bring renewed excitement for the gift of being unconditionally loved and the comfort of knowing that, whether we are asked to remove the S from a Skittle or the M from an M&M, every last one of us has been chosen—with great excitement and the utmost care—to live (and rock) this great experiment. --- Copyright 2022 Nicole Johnson Images: Canva ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-great-experiment%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-great-experiment%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-great-experiment%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=The%20Great%20Experiment) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-great-experiment%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fthe-great-experiment%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Nicole Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/back%20cover%20photo.jpg) ### [Nicole Johnson](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/nicole-johnson) Wife to a guy she adores and mom to two grown sons and a teenage daughter brought home through the gift of adoption, Nicole loves people and writes to connect with others. To be vulnerable with one another is to grow. Her messy and miraculous faith journey is told in her memoir, [My Unexpected Journey, My Surprising Joy](https://a.co/d/aiHVmNR). Nicole blogs at [NicoleJenniferJohnson.com](http://www.nicolejenniferjohnson.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Our Father's House Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/03/09/our-fathers-house) [ Angels Among Us Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/12/14/angels-among-us) [ Found in Him Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/found-in-him) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.