From: laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Branding kids, IQ scores...
Date: 21 Jan 93 18:45:07 GMT
Reply-To: laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

In article <1993Jan18.152035.10261@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, ren@hopper.ACS.Virginia.EDU (Karen Prestemon) writes:

>People who post here about their 18mo olds being possibly gifted are
>so ridiculous, I have to laugh.  Most of them seem to think their
>kids might grow up to be Nobel prize winners or something.  

Alright -- THAT'S IT!  I've had just about all I can take.  Apparently, there
are a lot of people out there who think 'giftedness' is something that is:

	constant over a person's lifetime
	a guarantee of success in later life
	a 'badge' worn by the parents
	only apparent in people of at least school age

I happen to believe that giftedness is:

	the ability to learn quickly
	    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A while back, after noticing that my daughter was developing far beyond her age
group, I posted a short note asking for advice from my friends at misc.kids.
I kept my note as vague as possible so as to solicit a greater number and 
variety of opinions.  Obviously, there are a great number of people who
misunderstood me.  Since then, I have been told to 'get a grip' and I have been
accused of 'wearing my daughter's giftedness as a badge'.  I have also heard
a number of comments, like the above, that would imply that I am being 
'ridiculous'.  

So tell me, what is so ridiculous about saying my child might be gifted.  I 
never said she would be the next Einstein.  I don't happen to be an idiot.
I am gifted myself, and I happen to know what giftedness means.  I simply
meant that she seems to be developing rather quickly.

In answer to some of the responses from my post (I couldn't get mail out).
I would have to be a pretty poor excuse for a mother (which I'm not, thank you 
very much) to be disappointed just because my daughter probably won't grow
up to win a Nobel Prize.  I happen to be a little more realistic than that!
Also, I happen to know that all children develope at a different rate and that
there is a range associated with the major milestones.  My child happened to
be at the early end of the range for a child two months older.  Also, I 
happen to think that 'gifted' would include those children at the early end
for *their own* age group.  Regardless of where she might end up later in
life, I happen to believe that any child who shows an interest in learning
something should be encouraged and praised.  Even if, and especially if in
my book, she is only 6 months old.

In fairness, some people responded to my post with encouragement.  To these
people I say "Thank you."

[Stuff about their misfortune deleted.]

I'm sorry to hear that your expectations have not been met, but I am happy to
hear that the good people of your country will be paying for your pre-natal 
care.  I think it should be free in all countries for all women.

>So, yeah, we're gifted, and so what??

Success in life requires much more than giftedness.  It requires hard work
and determination.  Being gifted just helps the hard work and the determination
to pay off.  Oh, and luck is nice, too.

>I am just sharing general thoughts...

Fine, so share your thoughts, but call a flame a flame.

>--Karen

Laura
laura@tasvax.nswses.navy.mil                      I speak only for myself.
PHD/NSWC, Port Hueneme, CA  USA
Mom to Maryrose Nadine McGovern - born 8-5-92
Newsgroups: misc.kids