Sounds like my DD to a T. Bedtime is ALWAYS when it comes out. She has gotten better over the years with learning to cope and hanlde her emotions. We had to do a lot of deep breathing techniques and talk through our anxiety when it would erupt from these things. Morning would tend to calm the flames. I always knew if things were bothering her because they always come out at night.

Here's a deep one:

DS 7 asked us if there was a Santa Clause. I thought I'd be smart and ask him what HE thought.

He replied: I know there has to be a Santa because my mom and dad would never lie to me.


eeerrrrrrr! Now we've done it!

Lol, that's exactly why we've never "done" these stories. However, I have to wonder, was there a wicked gleam in his eye?

First off, I should tell you I'm not a parent, but a teacher, gifted individual and son of a gifted father. That said...while I was more thoughtful than emotional about them, I asked questions like this, and my dad's strategy was always to engage with me and wonder about the question himself, rather than trying to answer it. Maybe we would try to answer it together, maybe we would discuss possibilities, maybe we would come to the conclusion that it couldn't be answered - but just talking about it from the same perspective was a bonding experience. Gifted kids do look to their parents for security, but they grow out of expecting their parents to have all the answers pretty young.

Speaking as a teacher, by the way, I love kids who give me questions that don't have answers. It takes a special kind of person (at any age) to wonder about things like this.

I agree with you. I myself was never "gifted" during my school years but have come to find out through my son who is very gifted that I am "gifted" in my own way. He is very factual/tech. I am very emotional/artistic. My way of seeing things is interesting to him and the debate that comes out of that difference is what has made us so close. He teaches me what I never understood before in Alegbra and Science. I teach him how what he does relates to people and how to look outside of the box. He stopped asking me for the answers to the universe when he was about 4 so I definately understand your experiences with your father. Thanks for sharing!