I agree-- it's also downright startling to realize just how much some HG+ kids are capable of showing you what you need/want to see. Even parents and teachers who know them VERY well can easily be fooled by some kids who are super-perceptive super-authority pleasing types.
My DD absolutely does NOT come across as Doogie-bright; most of the people who know her in real life know that she is "super-smart" but have NO idea just how smart. Honestly,
we don't really know either. All we know is that what we've tried to challenge her with so far--
hasn't. Not even remotely, in most instances.
Would it change my opinion if she were tested and found to have a FSIQ lower than 150? Probably not. I'd probably chalk that up to having something weird going on that got in the way of testing, because in practical terms, we've
seen those flashes of "OMG--WOW" often enough to know that she's the real deal. Which is why we haven't bothered.
Motivation. Yes. And think carefully about what it means when your child is motivated to
please others. "Please" means a lot of different things, doesn't it? A kindergarten teacher that expresses age-normed expectations certainly isn't "pleased" when those expectations aren't met, now, is s/he?
Some kids are complete and total chameleons socially-- they give everyone they know a slightly different version of themselves, and try to aim for the one that is most
useful in the relationship.
My DD gives people what makes them feel
comfortable and allows them to be relaxed and
open. What that means in functional terms is that pretty much NOBODY sees all the way down. No way is being with a PG person in full intellectual flight a "comfortable" experience. Exhilarating, maybe-- but not relaxing or comfortable. So that isn't who she is for others.
