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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

I'm 38 and don't understand this 100% or have firsthand experience of it. But I can read it. Am I illiterate?[/quote]

You have 34 more years of life experience than a 4-year-old. You're also probably better at abstract thinking than a 4-year-old.

But if you want to think that a 4-year-old is comprehending Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, go ahead. Clearly this child will be ready for Crime and Punishment by age 5, and If This Is A Man by age 7.[/quote]

I'm not the 38yo PP (I wish), but I'm perplexed that you can't believe that this is true.  It is.  There's a vast diversity of humans out there, and some of them are really unusual.  One of mine is.  Kids who are different don't deserve to have their experiences invalidated or dismissed.  They're different.  FWIW, I think that one reason she's like that is just genetic -- it's how my DH's parents describe him as a kid too.  But part of it is she is/was SUPER inquisitive, about big, adult, philosophical and scientific topics.  And we gave her real answers.  We tried kid-level answers, but she wouldn't accept them and keep questioning in more and more precise ways until we couldn't blow her off.  So she learned the stuff she was interested in.  Now, she is absolutely not at that level in other areas (math, social).  But when it comes to reading/critical thinking, she's probably ahead of most 10 year olds.
I'm not bragging, fyi.  I love my other kid (who's not like this) just as much and think she's just as awesome.  Of course my kids are my favorite, but I think all kids are awesome.  I've worked with kids a lot, and I just really like kids.  If you allow yourself to see them for who they are and not try to fit them in a box of what you think all kids are like, they are really interesting.[/quote]

If your 4 year old understands suicide, it isn't because she's gifted.  The best example I can give is that my child at 4 knew about monocles because we were reading a book about different eyewear.  She would appear to have more knowledge than other 4 year olds about monocles at the time, not because she was gifted, but because she had learned about them whereas maybe another 4 year old had learned about eagles or turpentine or gargoyles on that particular day.  Your child didn't learn about suicide because she was gifted or inquisitive any more or less than any other kid.  Damn shame you feel it was appropriate because you think she was ahead of most 10 year olds.  4 year olds don't have the life experiences to understand Harry Potter.  If you gave non-kid level answers about suicide/death wish - well, I got nothing.  Just nothing in response.

No, a 4 year old isn't reading Harry Potter and understanding it - but you can tell yourself that.  Like I said, it is like nails on a chalkboard when someone says their 4/5 year old is reading Harry Potter.  [/quote]

Fine, don't believe me. I actually never use the word gifted, because I know it's a charged word and I think it's kind of meaningless. But what I said was true.  Because you can't imagine it, it must be impossible. And I guess her teachers, father, grandparents are all wrong too and you are right even though you've never even met her.  But I have no reason to "tell myself that". I'm not invested in it, I'd be happier if she wasn't like this to be honest. It would certainly be easier. But she is, and I love her for who she is, and I think it's really pathetic that you would feel the need to try to pretend she's messed up because she's just different this way. She's a delight, there's nothing wrong with her that she understands those concepts, she wants to understand the big questions about life and everything.  The truth of my daughter's life is like nails on a chalkboard to you?  I think that's a problem with you, not a problem with her or me.  I hope you aren't a teacher.  Luckily my DD's teachers have been able to see her for what she is and accept and enjoy her.  [/quote]

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