When did you realize (accept) your child was not gifted?

[Anonymous]

...and did you feel more relaxed afterwards?

[Anonymous]

Sigh. I am very gifted (so said my teachers!) and my 15 month old is smart, tenacious, and not light years ahead in verbal and other areas. MY mom is way more stressed about it than I am ("you were speaking sentences and wouldn't stop at that age!!"). If she's above average enough where things come mostly easy to her, then I'm happy. I don't know how you're defining gifted, but truly gifted is a mixed blessing and comes with difficulties as well.

[Anonymous]

My gifted kid has special needs, and may not develop to his full potential. He's one of these twice exceptional children.

My high-achieving kid is probably not gifted, although she sure looks like it now in elementary school. A quick-thinker and doer, but not a ton of intellectual curiosity.

Oh well.

[Anonymous]

As a parent who was identified as gifted, and now has a wonderful, kind, creative, thoughtful, kid with an IQ right around 100, I have to say that the idea that one would have to accept or come to terms with the fact that your child isn't part of a minority of 2% is really awful.

[Anonymous]

This thread is so lame. Accept that your kid is gifted? What's the alternative? Relax about it after? Who are you people? Just let your kid be and stop stressing about it or you'll make them anxious too.

[Anonymous]

Is this b/c your child wasn't accepted into aap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who was identified as gifted, and now has a wonderful, kind, creative, thoughtful, kid with an IQ right around 100, I have to say that the idea that one would have to accept or come to terms with the fact that your child isn't part of a minority of 2% is really awful.

Seriously. Your kid is not an extension of you. Quit trying to parent an imaginary dream kid and be happy about the one you got. Average is wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Most kids are average, some are below average
Only a few are truly gifted.
Out of 2 million children there will be some that are truly exceptional. Others are just kids.
Let them live an outstanding childhood and move on

[Anonymous]

If by 'gifted' you mean high IQ I know so many 'gifted' kids who bombed as adults. Think of bobby fisher or ted kaczynski. EQ is far more important in terms of career success and overall happiness. Often iq can be a hinderance to eq without proper coping tools. And a lot of EQ can be modeled/taught by parents. I suggest you read about EQ if you want to set your kid up for success in life, instead of giving up on them based on irrelevant criteria.

[Anonymous]

My 5 year old took two IQ tests and did not do well at all. I was profoundly gifted and aced standardized tests went to the top universities for my fields, multiple grad degrees, etc.

I was taken aback each time but DC is so curious and delights in learning about animals, history, loves art, loves learning to read, great with math, extremely sweet and kind.

So I just ignore the tests and appreciate all the gifts I'm seeing in him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so lame. Accept that your kid is gifted? What's the alternative? Relax about it after? Who are you people? Just let your kid be and stop stressing about it or you'll make them anxious too.

Yep, the gifted valectorian of my high-school class killed himself week after graduation. Slow down, people

[Anonymous]

I feel so bad for OP's kids.

[Anonymous]

I do not worry about my children being "gifted" but I do worry a little about academic drive - mine are still young and smart for their ages but I see older cousins struggle with things like drive, ambition, ADHD ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent who was identified as gifted, and now has a wonderful, kind, creative, thoughtful, kid with an IQ right around 100, I have to say that the idea that one would have to accept or come to terms with the fact that your child isn't part of a minority of 2% is really awful.

This. I was excited to see who my child would be. I didn't have to accept anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 5 year old took two IQ tests and did not do well at all. I was profoundly gifted and aced standardized tests went to the top universities for my fields, multiple grad degrees, etc.

I was taken aback each time but DC is so curious and delights in learning about animals, history, loves art, loves learning to read, great with math, extremely sweet and kind.

So I just ignore the tests and appreciate all the gifts I'm seeing in him.

Why are you testing your 5 year old?