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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

Original poster

Bad attitude of some of you here

365 replies

lollymum · 21/02/2007 11:24

There's a lot of bad attitude on here. Culture of underachievement and all that. It's sad and a bit shocking really when these children are the ones who really need the help and the resources and aren't getting it. My daughter is four and I'm not abashed to say the word 'genuis'. In front of her or not. It isn't a bad word, it's what she is and I love her for it.

How do I know? Oh please, this is the child who was playing - meaningully - with abacus at 3 months. Now four she has read Secret Seven and is working on newspapers. She has her own email.

So shoot me. My daughter is gifted, there, I said it. Why the bad attitude?

OP posts:
wotzsaname · 21/02/2007 11:53

100???!! or 101!! wow

KathyMCMLXXII · 21/02/2007 11:53

My child is trying to say that, Colditz. I can see it in his eyes (sorry, soppy mummy alert)

ohsmellyjelly · 21/02/2007 11:53

Message withdrawn

colditz · 21/02/2007 11:53

Lollymum, my point being that you thinking your child can do things not only doesn't make it true, but says far more about you than it does about your child.

lotrl · 21/02/2007 11:53

Legolas, my favourite character.

colditz · 21/02/2007 11:54

No Kathy

^thisT baby Loved his mummy so much, that every bubble that issued from his lips was him trying to say "i love you mummy"

SSShakeTheChi · 21/02/2007 11:55

this is a JOKE posting .... duh.....

My dd was running my life by the time she was 6 months old, is she a genius then?

lotrl · 21/02/2007 11:55

I am sorry PeachyClair I did not know that as I am not a regular on this site and I read your post literally.

KathyMCMLXXII · 21/02/2007 11:56

Yup Colditz, mine too
Sorry, I do get what you're saying really

MrsGoranVisnjic · 21/02/2007 11:56

if I took this seriously at all I would have to say that you are incredibly at risk of raising an unhappy child - it is important for children to be able to relate to their peers and not adults.

I have one relation who was raised in a slightly intensive way (eldest of 3 children). Always classical music, encouraged to communicate with adults on an adult level .. she was so very unhappy at school because she didn't understand what was going on .. now she is a gawky, and still intelligent, 19 year old .. Her cousin was raised more naturally and is a bright and lovely and socially graceful 19 year old

anybody who is reading this and taking it at face value .. please .. be very careful with your hothousing and pride .. I do think it can be exceptionally detrimental to the development of a truly rounded, and truly happy individual

MrsGoranVisnjic · 21/02/2007 11:58

I would also like to say that the quality of writing and journalistic integrity at The Times has gone dramatically downhill of late .. it would not be my newspaper of choice

drosophila · 21/02/2007 11:58

Genius or not why the need to declare it in such a forceful manner?

What troubles me is that you place such value on it. You don't say how kind she is or mention other qualities she has that are not academic.

On a different note how many child geniuses became significant movers and shakers?

Other than Mozart I can't think of any.

JillyBeansNW · 21/02/2007 12:00

Is there something fishy in the air today?

Hey lotrl, just seen where you got the idea for lord of the rings.

This thread is brilliant though - as are ALL of the children mentioned

CatBert · 21/02/2007 12:00

I am not often downright offended by things on MN - I generally just sit back and laugh - but frankly your last post was aggresive. "Or are they just watching teletubbies" - I could FEEL you seething in an indignant and bitter way.

Are you REALLY surprised at the responses here?

You are right on some levels that potentially G&T children perhaps do not get as much encouragement and resources that they deserve, but hey - most of us have quote: "ordinary" children but to each of us they are entirely extraordinary and we marvel in their every acheivement and milestone. Do you think we DON'T???

So, I feel strongly enough now to absolutely refute your suggestion that a child whose brain maturation has not even led to basic physical development such as sitting up could be processing enough ability to understand groups of beads, except in a rattling, fun sense and if she reads Secret 7 - then fantastic. However, does she really have the ability to understand the complex social situations of the group of much older children being descibed and the old fashioned past generational social situations which in today's life are quite alien? It's NOT all about reading, writing, maths and wotnot - she will need to be socially aware and able to interact with the world in a "meaningful" way too - lest she become isolated and unhappy.

So equally seething and bitterly I argue

"are you sitting there quietly smug and satisfied that all other children are not WORTHY? Will you let her enjoy her childhood and occasionally hang out with "normal" children who occasionally, god-forbid, watch teletubbies? Will you let her do her own thing, or will your excitement at having a gifted child ultimately lead to pressures and stress she may not be able to handle?

SHE IS ONLY FOUR.

AitchTwoOh · 21/02/2007 12:01

this is hilarious. keep it up.

KathyMCMLXXII · 21/02/2007 12:02

Anyway, should you really be letting her read Secret Seven? It's not well written and I remember Enid Blyton as rather sexist.

themildmanneredjanitor · 21/02/2007 12:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

piglit · 21/02/2007 12:02

I'd be fascinated to know whether you too are gifted and talented lollymum....

WanderingTrolley · 21/02/2007 12:02

Actually, we are all being very cruel to lollymum and lord of the troll.

We should be supportive of their superior children and fine parenting skills.

Now, who can help with a pattern for too-short trousers?

themildmanneredjanitor · 21/02/2007 12:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

aDad · 21/02/2007 12:02

ah a bit of midweek humour.

themildmanneredjanitor · 21/02/2007 12:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AitchTwoOh · 21/02/2007 12:03

so true, kathy. please don't expose her to the lumpen prose stylings of the blyton. if she really was a genius she'd already have told you that, of course.

lotrl · 21/02/2007 12:04

Actually my husband is black and a linguist professor. I am a classical musician.

Original poster
lollymum · 21/02/2007 12:05

OK sorry guys, it's Greensleeves having a laugh

I would have strung it out all afternoon, but sadly I have to go out

Sorry to anyone genuinely offended, twas only meant as a piss-take

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