I Wish I'd Known...

Although our youngest is still in college, I guess my kids are officially grown up. Over the summer my husband and I sat down with our sons and daughters-in-law and had a glass of wine to celebrate the youngest turning 21. So now I look back on what we did right, and what we wished we’d done differently.

From the time when my kids started school, I spent years cautiously sizing up new teachers or fellow parents before using the ‘g’ word (gifted), quietly digging around our public library for resources likeBringing out the Best: A Guide for Parents of Young Gifted Children and The Gifted Kids Survival Guide, and calling Mom for support.

I wish I’d known when we started this journey what I’ve learned over the years.

I wish I’d known that “gifted students are not always successful in school.” 

I wish I’d known that “gifted children often have significant variations within themselves and develop unevenly across skill levels.” 

I wish I’d known that “the majority of teachers in classrooms today have not been trained to meet the learning needs of these students.” 

I wish I’d known that “students can be both gifted and disabled simultaneously.”

I wish I’d known that homeschooling a gifted child is a viable option when traditional school cannot meet the academic, social and/or emotional needs. 

I wish I’d known that “intensity, sensitivity and overexcitability are primary characteristics of the highly gifted.”

And I wish I’d known that there were places where I could meet others who understand the joys and challenges of parenting these kids, where I wouldn’t have to tread lightly or explain or apologize. 

Gifted conferences are one place where you can find fellow parents of gifted kids. This year, WATG’s fall conference features a special opportunity for parents of gifted kids. Parents are always welcome to attend both days of our conference, but on Friday, November 6, we will have special networking opportunities and sessions of particular interest to parents. And as always, parents attend at a drastically discounted rate – just $60 per day. Come join us. Register today!