The topic on how to talk about your gifted child brings to mind a question I have.
What have you taught your child to say to strangers when they make observations about their ability?
This weekend DS, hubby and I went out to eat. The waitress made a "child friendly" comment to DS about being a smart boy and he told her he knows seventh grade math. She looked at us questioningly and I said, "Actually, it was one problem in seventh grade math." DS said, "I'm in third grade math at school and have fifth grade reading!" Her eyebrows shot up at that and she asked how old he was. She was a bit like a deer in the headlights when he told her he was six.
Later that day when we were alone, I told DS that he shouldn't agree with random people who say he's smart and shouldn't brag on what he knows. I felt I was walking a thin line trying to explain it's okay to answer specific questions from a teacher or doctor, but to be more private with others. I don't want him to "hide his light under a bush", but neither do I want him making a spectacle of himself (and us). How do you convey this concept properly without making your child feel ashamed of what they know? I don't think I did a good job of it.
I'm sure that waitress was thinking all sort of things about us as parents. Not the least was our negligence in teaching our son not to brag on himself.
