Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy GT program denial--need advocacy advice

Since 'Neato conjured me up about homeschooling, I'll just pop in to say hi. If you have any questions about how it works, let me know. I'm not one to try to persuade people to HS--heck, a year ago, I'd have laughed if you had told me I'd be called "the resident expert in HSing"! But I'm happy to try to answer questions about it if you do consider HSing. It's been good for my DS6.

(And BTW, I think Lorel deserves the title of "the resident expert in HSing" far more than I do! I'm just a newbie. A chatty, helpful newbie, sure, but a newbie nontheless... She's a very helpful pro!)

Anyway, I don't have any major suggestions beyond what has already been offered to you. Most important, I think, is Ania's advice to take it one year (or less, even!) at a time. Your DD is happy and challenged now? Great! This year is working.

Now start getting your ducks in a row for 1st grade, which is when the wheels fall off for a lot of HG+ kids (and it sounds like your daughter might well be one of those!).

In my experience, the teacher matters more than anything else. A lousy teacher can ruin the best of programs, and a teacher who "gets" your child and wants her to learn can turn a crummy situation into a joy for your child.

I'm sorry about the dumb testing. Keep your chin up!

Thanks again, everyone, for the great advice. I knew this was the right place! It's not something I can talk about with even my closest friends so I was feeling a bit alone. It's just a very touchy subject.

And pinkpanther, thanks so much for sharing about your daughter. How frustrating! I'm so sorry that she's miserable, and I hope you are able to make progress as you push for more. I certainly know I'm not alone in this, which is a fact that's even more infuriating. I just think about how many kids are left out; it makes me shudder.

We'll definitely stay on top of things, and I guess we'll proceed with the district appeal. Now if I could just figure out how to better deal with many of her overexcitabilities . . . . I guess that's another thread.

If you figure out the solution to that, please let me know! My DS3.5 is Mr. Excessive Excitability! We're not sure if he's as GT as DS6.5, but if his overexcitabilities are an indication, the kid must be a GENIUS!

<exhausted sigh>

P.S. We're all with you on the "can't talk to others" about our kids. This is *definitely* the right place for you if you feel that way!

Ha! My PG OE child about drove me over the edge this afternoon. Screaming and crying about everthing and anything. I swear she thinks of the rest of us as her personal servants.

Oh, that's my DS3, to a tee. DS6 said "please" and "thank you" almost from the moment he could say "dada." But DS3 orders us around like he owns us.

And the tears! OMG! The tears! Over everything, over nothing...

Doesn't the kid know I'm an INTJ? What does he expect from me?

I'm glad you caught my assist there, Dottie. That was totally for you!

Ha! I'm right there with you Kriston. I'm an INFJ, but I'm borderline on the I and the F. This is one of those cases where my "T" definitely kicks in.

I cannot conjure up the slightest sympathy for a 10 minute dramatic episode over DD's brother touching her doll (by accident) or detecting skim milk rather than 2% from a 10 feet range. Ugh!

LOL! Ah, don't get me started! When DS3 asks for a time machine so he can go back and have OJ for breakfast-past (because having it for lunch won't do), it's BAD!

I do hate me some rampant emotionalism!

But did she ask for a time machine? I mean, that's the real question, isn't it?

(LOL!)