Reply to S/O - If you were a 'gifted' kid, how does that inform your parenting choices?

Forum Index » Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers

Reply to "S/O - If you were a 'gifted' kid, how does that inform your parenting choices?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]My experience is different from the other posters in that I was referred to the gifted program 3 times and failed the test.  My mom, a teacher, pulled me out of a Montessori school because after k they wanted me to skip 1st, and my mom refused.  She put my in public and they referred me to the gifted program and I failed the test.  This happened in second, and again in third, which is when I stood up for myself and said no more.  Though my IQ is average, have no clue what it is, I have always been very creative and a voracious reader.  I also love philosophy.  I can't stand standardized tests, but it pains me that I've done so poorly on them.  About 5th grade I started having trouble with teachers.  For years I'd won district book writing contests and wanted to write a novel.  My teacher said that I couldn't turn in a book without pictures or I "wouldn't win."  But I didn't care about winning, I cared about being an accomplished novelist, so I scribbled over it in defiance.  I had it happen again in junior high when I won a speech contest.  I just thought the adults were idiots.  I really needed a program that fit wacky students like me, probably a private school that rewarded creativity.  My mom also told me "well you're just different" which she said in praise, but I always thought that meant I'd never be able to relate to people on a spiritual level.  I have lots of friends, but always keep a distance.

My mom, though a teacher, was single and poor and didn't have the energy to manage us.  She did rise to the occasion once in junior high to come to my defense, and I later heard the principal bad mouthing her.  I was very proud then, but I wished she had pushed me to not be so stubborn and help me find my way.  Also, my brother was intellectually gifted and did terribly in school, never went to college.  She held him back for a year, and he was very bored.  My brother and I have agreed that we wished she helped us manage school better.

I have my kids in public for elementary because I feel like they will be a bit more grounded (don't flame me).  Later, if they are not thriving I will help them to find a school that fits, whether it is public or private.  They are very smart, though probably not gifted, and both excel in different areas.  I want to give them the life I wanted, though make it work for them.  From a very young age I wanted to move to the East Coast, and I feel so much more at home here than on the West Coast.  I always wanted to see art and travel, so I make that a priority for my kids.  I stress the importance of education, but find ways to make learning fun (like homework).  Now as I'm finally finding my true self as an adult, I think that will inspire them.  My mom was unhappy and depressed throughout my childhood, which affected her parenting.

[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics