Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion You know you're raising a child with OEs when...

When you can't play half your music collection, and regularly have to hurry past buskers, because the songs are 'too sad' and make your kid cry.

When you child becomes distraught that people don't ask after his pet fish when inquiring into the well-being of the family, "because [fish] is a core family member and deserves to be asked after".

LazyMum and Aquinas, DS8 has both of those sensitivities as well. When he says that I'm the best mom in the world, he'll say DH is the best dad in the world, and same goes for DS6, both cats, and all 6 fish.

Aaahhh, yes! And then there's the scene when you don't agree that your child loves you more than you love him/her, but that your loves are equal (or you might just love your child more). Your child launches himself/herself straight at you, and you end up floundering under a tsunami of kisses and hugs in a proof counter-attack. So sweet, yet so potentially injurious...!!

Huh. Hadn't given that much thought to this particular one...but now that I think about it, DC#1 has a slightly different manifestation of this--known for saying to teachers, in all sincerity, that they are the best teacher ever. Which has been quite helpful in differentiation and acceleration situations, I will say, as everyone wants to help a child who is effusively positive about the adults responsible for them. #1, I think, actually makes teachers better with loads of positive reinforcement.

DD wanted to invite her teachers to her birthday party, and sometimes asks me if I can arrange playdates with them, bless.

Also: only got half the shopping done yesterday because a sad song came on the supermarket speakers and we had to haul butt to get out before DD melted into tears. Most of the time I get her to put her fingers in her ears and go 'la la la' but yesterday that wasn't cutting it. Sigh.

LazyMum, I love the teacher thing.

Our latest: DS8 always has to say "I love you" as the very last parting phrase at bedtime or when one of us leaves the house. I finally asked him why and he said it's because my mom passed away when I was a child and he wants to be sure that the last thing he ever says to us is "I love you".

He's not overly anxious about it, but he will always repeat it after everything else has been said. So if I say "Sleep well", he'll repeat it again.

Oh, dear sweet intense child.

Mm. Anxious, intense #2 has been known to lie weeping silently in bed because one of us missed a bedtime hug. Not just as a small child, either.

My DS6 often makes me special mementos to take into work “as reminders that I love you, Mama.” Tonight’s gift was a scarf he made out of fabric in our two favourite colours. I received detailed instructions on how best to wear it (“no, Mama, you should wear it like *this* like the French do”).

Oh these kids are just too sweet. <3 <3 <3