Let me start this post by admitting that I have written and rewritten, tweaked, hacked, chopped, and edited this post on no less than 100 separate occasions, since I originally started writing it in September, 2011.
(yes, September)
If I know just one thing, it is this: giftedness is not an easy topic to discuss; there are too many conceptions, misconceptions and opinions.
I finally determined that I’m never going to get this intro ‘just perfect’, and frankly, it’s been holding me back from so much that I want to write about this very topic (as well as the relaunch of the new layout and design), so I’m just going to close my eyes… hold my breath… and JUMP!
*peeking through squinted eyes to see if anyone is reaching out to hold my hand*
Since last spring, Randy and I have been on a journey of sorts, navigating our way through countless books, websites, articles and conferences to better and fully understand “giftedness” and all of its meaning.
In many ways, it can be a confusing and lonely journey.
A beautiful, chaotic, fun, intriguing, curious, lovely journey.
Without a map.
The more we’ve read and come to understand about our gifted children, the more we’ve come to realize that, despite the fact there is so much need for support, for a million and one different reasons, there isn’t much.
So often, what we were reading essentially concluded with “We know it can be difficult and challenging. Just love ’em. [long pause…] Good luck!”
Not much help when dealing with four children (and two adults… *hi!*) who all have emotional intensities.
So that is why we are starting this section on our site. We can’t document our lives and ignore how giftedness factors into it. It affects every moment of our day: from what we eat, to what clothes are worn, to how we end the day.
Our hope is that, in writing about the issues we encounter and the joys and successes we have, others will be able to relate in some way and lend a voice of support to any parent who is struggling with decisions and choices they are facing with and for their gifted child.
Our purpose in starting this section of our site is: 1) to be a resource and support for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, teachers and friends, of gifted children, and any parent who is advocating for their special needs child and 2) to share our journey along this path.
We will eventually expand this section of our site to include a forum, various resources, tips and professional advice. The support community built around it will be named “The Hive” (I will explain why in another post. I promise!)
It’s gonna be cool. And we want you to join in and lend your thoughts and ideas.
We absolutely and wholly love, adore and cherish our gifted children, despite any frustrations and challenges, and we know that you feel the same way about your own precocious children. We’re so excited about this journey and seeing where it takes us.
We hope you find comfort and answers along the way as well.
This is going to be great! I’m so proud of you for taking this leap. I (for one, anyway) am with you!! :)
Thank you, Megan! You know how nervous I’ve been about doing this, and I’ve so appreciated your encouragement!
I’m always open to any thoughts/feedback/input – so share away :)
*holding your hand*
I applaud you for your courage! It sounds like this has been a struggle for your family and I look forward to joining you (cyber-like) on your journey. Big hugs, Friend!
Thanks, Carrie! It has been a roller coaster, for sure. A lot of it was just finally wrapping our heads around it all and how all the parts influence everything else (basic physics, I know… but sometimes I’m pretty dense ;)
So excited for your new adventure and glad there is a parent voice for Giftedness in the blog world. The unfortunate reality of the public education system these days leaves gifted kids floundering. All the emphasis is being put on the kids who are not proficient or advanced and/or “keeping” kids proficient and advanced on THE Test, not about meeting the needs of kids who need something more, something deeper, something “other”.
Kim – I am so excited to get your feedback and thoughts on this. And I will definitely be asking for some input along the way, if that is ok with you.
These kids really do get lost. I shudder to think how much genius we’ve lost because it wasn’t identified, recognized or nurtured.
What a cute blog! I love the way you and your husband met! Bravo for posting so beautifully about your gifted children.
Thank you, Mariam! And I’m excited to now have your blog added to my list of resources! I’m grateful for the support we have encountered from this.
I think it’s great that you are doing this, but I want to disagree with you that there isn’t a lot of support. I’ve been homeschooling my gifted daughter for almost 10 years and there was support at the beginning and it has gotten much, much better since then. The most essential resource you can find is Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page, at http://hoagiesgifted.org. The amazing Carolyn K has been building and maintaining this site for about 14 years or so, and it is very deep, much deeper than you might imagine by glancing at the home page. I delved into it deeply 10 years ago and have revisited many times since. She now has a great Facebook page as well, at http://www.facebook.com/HoagiesGifted. You also need one of the TAGFAM mailing lists. I used TAGMAX for many years, the one for families homeschooling gifted children, but there are other lists for those with kids in school. See http://tagfam.org and click Mailing Lists in the left panel. These are very high-quality, moderated lists. There are many gifted support groups these days and if there isn’t one near you, if you start one, you’ll put tons of time into it, but you will get so much benefit. I started one for gifted homeschoolers in my area and it has been a rich source of support for us and for many other families. Good luck on your journey!
Hi Jennifer — thank you for commenting!
I’m glad to hear how much support you’ve had over the years. That is wonderful! And I’m sure it’s been a big help as you’ve navigated your way with your daughter.
Our experience hasn’t been quite the same. I have all of those resources in my stash already (and we are in the process of starting our local parent group). And yes – those sites do have tons of depth to them.
For me, however, with 4 children who all have different EI’s and degrees of giftedness, it was an overwhelming, confusing amount of information to sort through as I started out. I’m certainly not trying to replace any of the resources already out there, and I’m definitely not trying to negate the support that they provide for so many parents and children.
My hope is that anyone who does share the same experience as us, will find this to be a spot where they are comfortable taking a deep breath and gathering some basic info, before it becomes too overwhelming.
~Karla
Karla, This is my very first blog entry, so bear with me. I am in my fifties, the mother of a 17 year old senior at a school for kids gifted in the arts. She plans to study meteorology (research, not media) and has aspirations to study at Yale. Those are only my credentials to post on your blog. You are in a very promising place near B’ham in terms of your little ones’ education. A close friend of mine teaches at a school in that vicinity, and I toured it a few years ago. If there were schools like that near me, my child would not be 200 miles away living in a dorm. She became so bored with math and science that I could not convince her to apply to the math/sci school near our home. Your blog sounds as though you have hope, excitement, and determination where your children are concerned. Hold fast to those attributes in the years to come. I would not advise you just to love them because you will do that regardless. I would advise you never to take no for an answer. You may be required to fight for them harder than a parent of children with special needs because there are no laws in place to protect their rights. Give it all you have, maintain your support base, and, like any parent should, take plenty of mental pictures. If you have not already done so, keep a journal for each one. Write once a day or at least once a week just a few lines of something significant, funny, endearing that they did that day. My best to you and yours.
oh Mary — thank you thank you thank you for your comment! So many parents need to hear exactly what you wrote! (as a matter of fact, I printed it out and hung it over my desk)
No shame in your credentials — we are parents trying to make sure our children don’t get lost in a system that so often sees them as fine, as long as they are given more work… (HA!)
Your friend must teach at the International Baccalaureate School? Or the Alabama School of Fine Arts? We are fortunate to have those opportunities close by (we live 5 mins from IBC and abt 15 from ASF)
I hope you will continue to comment :)
I’m on FB Mary Jane Andol – just noticed that I have no image on your blog. Sorry, but I don’t know how to import one, but you can “see” me on FB.
Hi Karla. Thank you for your kind words. I looked up my friend on FB and saw that the name of the school is Spain Park High School in Hoover. Just now I looked at your photo and saw the resemblance: you look very much like my sister when she was your age. She has two daughters who are also like my own daughter – one is gifted in art, the other in language, both in music. I’m honored that my post was worthy of being printed and posted, sincerely. Today I am a troubled parent. My friend, my sister and I took separate paths in parenting these gifted children. None of us feel truly completely successful, but gifted children are influenced by the same social conditions as other children plus they must learn at an early age to cope with demands not encountered by typical children. We as parents must learn as well – to cope, to understand, to try to keep our cool when the kid is behaving in a manner completely unlike him or her. Best to you and yours.