Why do DCUMs always need to tell you that her child has a high IQ?

[Anonymous]

My husband and his brother were both tested by their psycho mama for IQ at a young age. She talks about it ALL the time (how high it was, how everyone was so jealous, etc). Hubby (who I love dearly and is very bright) is a college drop-out who really didn't come into his own until he turned 30. Younger brother was a professional student who got fired 3 years ago from his first "real" job and now lives at home doing NOTHING. IQ is a predictor of what exactly? I agree that it is annoying as hell.

Ha. The two profoundly gifted people I knew right after graduating college did not go on to have illustrious careers. One raised two daughters, did not work until they went to college, and that was in retail. Another teaches, never married, lives with mom, kind of sad.

[Anonymous]

The Germans have a word for it.

[Anonymous]

I would just be happy to hear bragging about anything else. Anybody's kid win a beauty pageant? Anybody's kid get to be lifeguard? Anything other than IQ...please.

[Anonymous]

How about WPPSI scores?

(ducks)

[Anonymous]

Just because a child (or adult, for that matter) has a high IQ doesn't mean the child has common sense.

[Anonymous]

And just because your IQ is low does not mean that you have common sense ... or good manners.

[Anonymous]

Just curious, but in an anonymous forum that's dedicated to schools (and by extension, anything related to academics) why again is it so strange if a poster mentions IQ?

I take my children's education very seriously. I really don't know what their IQs are. However, I understand that in some counties this is something that is frequently tested in order to qualify for a lot of special programming. In other words, it's not like it's completely irrelevant information. Why the negativity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, but in an anonymous forum that's dedicated to schools (and by extension, anything related to academics) why again is it so strange if a poster mentions IQ?

I take my children's education very seriously. I really don't know what their IQs are. However, I understand that in some counties this is something that is frequently tested in order to qualify for a lot of special programming. In other words, it's not like it's completely irrelevant information. Why the negativity?

Jealousy. And being very upset when you realize that your "brilliant" child simply isn't as brilliant as his/her peers. It's not like it's something you can change either. You can't just throw money at the problem. So people get very bitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And just because your IQ is low does not mean that you have common sense ... or good manners.

lame response

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a REALLY angry poster on here lately, and s/he would be a lot better off getting therapy than taking his/her anger (about his/her kids, small penis, whatever) out on DCUM.

Enough with the "therapy is the answer" response! Be more creative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, but in an anonymous forum that's dedicated to schools (and by extension, anything related to academics) why again is it so strange if a poster mentions IQ?

I take my children's education very seriously. I really don't know what their IQs are. However, I understand that in some counties this is something that is frequently tested in order to qualify for a lot of special programming. In other words, it's not like it's completely irrelevant information. Why the negativity?

The IQ thing works its way into discussions that have nothing to do with the topic. It is tiring.

[Anonymous]

I have no patience for the parents that talk about their "disorderly/can't take direction" child in one breath and then go on to tell you all about the high IQ, as if it makes a difference (and the behavior should be accepted as part of being so intelligent and creative). They then go on to lament that they are having problems at school because of this or that teacher - blah blah - I think "my kid is a nightmare, but he's smart, so it's okay" is used way too often (and I've seen these types of parents at my own kids schools - and they are the problem as much as the kid.) Sometimes I think the "my kid is so smart, so he needs a break for this or that" is a harmful attitude and an overused justification for poor parenting when it comes to rules and boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no patience for the parents that talk about their "disorderly/can't take direction" child in one breath and then go on to tell you all about the high IQ, as if it makes a difference (and the behavior should be accepted as part of being so intelligent and creative). They then go on to lament that they are having problems at school because of this or that teacher - blah blah - I think "my kid is a nightmare, but he's smart, so it's okay" is used way too often (and I've seen these types of parents at my own kids schools - and they are the problem as much as the kid.) Sometimes I think the "my kid is so smart, so he needs a break for this or that" is a harmful attitude and an overused justification for poor parenting when it comes to rules and boundaries.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

I think that may be a bit simplistic though - at least in some cases. Lately I keep hearing about/reading about "2e kids" - twice exceptional. Apparently there are a fair number of kids out there who are gifted but also have some kind of disability. So what looks like a kid who "won't" control himself may actually be a kid who "can't" control himself.

Not that I know either the kids or parents you're talking about, but apparently sometimes there really is a gray area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no patience for the parents that talk about their "disorderly/can't take direction" child in one breath and then go on to tell you all about the high IQ, as if it makes a difference (and the behavior should be accepted as part of being so intelligent and creative). They then go on to lament that they are having problems at school because of this or that teacher - blah blah - I think "my kid is a nightmare, but he's smart, so it's okay" is used way too often (and I've seen these types of parents at my own kids schools - and they are the problem as much as the kid.) Sometimes I think the "my kid is so smart, so he needs a break for this or that" is a harmful attitude and an overused justification for poor parenting when it comes to rules and boundaries.

ITA. I've seen "my kid is so smart the teachers and other kids just don't get him/her" a few times.

As another poster pointed out, if the kid doesn't learn self control and how to get along with the rest of us dummies, then it doesn't matter how smart the child is, they won't be either successful or happy. MIT won't accept arrogant behavior any more than the local public. It's the parents' duty to coach every kid to get along with others, and very bright kids are no exception!