We didn't for a long time I was bought into the myth that everyone has the same level of intelligence and achievement differences were merely a function of economics (opportunity) and motivation. Plus, doesn't everyone think their kid(s) are clever?
DD was bright but so was everyone, right? Wrong!
She picked up arithmetic rapidly and intuitively by 5 but We never thought of this as unusual. She developed OEs so we investigated 'giftedness' as a possible cause and we got her tested. Results came back but we still didn't get it. Only when she was accepted as a DYS did we really understand that she was objectively different.
