I think the trouble I have at keeping everyone at arms length when it comes to our kid's issues is that many of our relatives have relevant experience. We have people who were accelerated, people who went to gifted magnets, gifted people who went to plain old public schools and even other 2e's.
The trouble is that since they (or their kids) turned out just fine they think what they did or didn't do is the way to go. Actually everyone turned out better than fine. You could play a game of Scrabble with all the post-nominal initials gathered around the table.
I get comments like
"Who cares if he is dyslexic. It isn't like he'll be illiterate. He'll figure it all out without any greedy therapists involved in his little five year old life. He'll figure out what works for him and be fine. He is an engineering type. There are worse things than being an engineer you know...(cough)...lawyer...(cough)"
And
"I am pretty sure the gifted program at my school was cancelled to provide new carpet for the football locker room. I turned out fine. Just pick a house you like. It isn't like you are trying to choose between the school district where they might be maimed and the one where they might become drug addicts."
Everyone means well and I know they are trying to help by minimizing the stress of our parenting decisions. It still makes me feel crazy.
