It's That Time of Year

We had a great time conferencing with so many of you!  Thank you for taking the time to meet with us and teaming together to help your child meet their highest potential.  It's that time of year when we, Dr. Lennon and Mrs. Bronn, hear about some frustrations happening at home.  Here are a few things that might help:

Be a part of the book study!! As you read a chapter, look at the questions we have posted on this site to help you think some things through.  We would love it if you would post something so others can read OR just so we know people are taking advantage of this opportunity to learn more about raising gifted kids. More importantly it will assure you that your child isn't the only one that struggles with "these things".

Read a few of the articles below:
Responsibility: Raising Children You Can Depend On
Being a Gifted Boy:  What We Have Learned
How to Guide Your Daughter to Success
Harnessing Gifted Girls' Emotional Strengths
Gifted High School Students' Survival Skills

Remember we are all in this together!

Let's Get Started on a Fun Road Together

This year we will be offering 1 book study a semester.  We would love it if you join us!  The first book we will be reading is Parenting Gifted Kids by James R. Delisle, Ph.D.

YOU decide when and where to post; this is YOUR study! Once you post a reflection, question and/or story to each section, consider reading other parents comments and responding to their comments/questions. 

This will be a great place to share and learn together!

For those of you new to posting, simply click on comments. You don't need an account to post, but it would be nice if you would sign your first name if posting anonymously.

Chapter 1: Understand What Giftedness Is... and What It Is Not

On page 6, Delisle quotes Annemarie Roeper’s definition of giftedness as involving, “greater awareness, greater sensitivity, and a greater ability to understand and transform perceptions into intellectual and emotional experiences.”
In what way(s) does this concept of giftedness align with what you see in your gifted child?

Chapter 2: Know the Distinction Between "Better At" and "Better Than"

Delisle lists four mistakes frequently made by adults regarding gifted children as follows:

• Forgetting that they a children first, and gifted second.

• Putting them on display for other adults.

• Putting them on display for other kids.

• Expecting them to be natural leaders.

Discuss how one of the above mistakes might be detrimental to raising a happy and/or successful child.

Chapter 3: Stop Paying Interest on a Bill You Never Owed

Delisle discusses Piechowski’s OE’s (overexciteabilities) in five realms:

psychomotor, sensual, intellectual, imaginational, and emotional.

Discuss an example of a gifted child demonstrating an OE and

tell how Delisle would suggest handling it.

Chapter 4: Take Charge of Your Child's Education

Delisle has 4 suggestions in his "Underground Guide to Getting Your Way".  Striking "I'm bored" from your child's vocabulary is a tough one.  When your child comes home and says this, what will your response be?  Share at least two different responses you will give to this statement, which will give your child responsibility of dissecting the boring situation into its component parts!  Educators do tend to use "jargon".  Are there other terms you've heard that weren't covered in this chapter yet you are unsure of the meaning?

Chapter 5: Appreciate That Less Than Perfect Is More Than Acceptable

My favorite two sentences in this chapter are:

"Don't feel guilty or dumb, just human."

"It's the flaws that make us human AND interesting."

Which of the five issues or lame statements do you find the most difficult to internalize?  Is there one item  from the How to Grow Up Creatively Gifted on page78, you would you like your family to work on?

Chapter 6: Living the Nuanced Life

"Be there with a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on; apply liberally, as needed.  Repeat as necessary."

"I don't know the answer though, but if I find out, I'll tell you."

Having conversations with your gifted child are one of the most important ways to spend time together so don't be afraid you won't have the answers to their questions.

This is where they see you are real and are there to listen and love them regardless of what is happening in their world.  Discuss how one of the quotes or questions on pages 106-108 might be helpful in opening the lines of communication with your gifted child.

Chapter 7: Deep Roots, Long Branches: Using the Past to Understand the Present

So the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree.  But be proud of that fact!  Your child is watching carefully to see how you respond and this helps them realize there are things they will be dealing with their entire lives BUT that is ok!!

"The need to share insights, wishes, dreams, discomforts, questions, and joys far overshadows te need to have definitive solutions to each of life's mysteries.....
Taken together, this journey towards self-discovery may benefit you both."

Have you had a time when you simply didn't know the answer?  How did you handle the situation?  Did you do one of the things listed on 127-128 or did you find something else worked even better?  Please share your success or what you learned from a failed attempt.  If you don't share, we can't learn from each other!

Chapter 8: Write Your Dreams in Pencil

• Goals are important but it's ok to change them as we go.   Do you know what your child's (short or long term) life goals are right now?  
• Multipotentiality can be a blessing and a curse.  What can you do now to help your child with this?  George Eliot says, "It is never too late to be what you might have been."

Do you have some life goals (for yourself or your family) like are mentioned on 144-146?  Share one goal and the first step you will take to meet that goal. (So it isn't in pencil, but we can always hit EDIT later!)  Then when you reach a milestone tell us here!  Remember we shouldn't be ashamed of our accomplishments, we don't want our kids to be ashamed of theirs.

Chapter 9: Make a Life, Not Just a Living

Chapter 10: Life Is Not a Race to See Who Can Get to the End the Fastest