Dude, I think we've been in the same meetings. I no longer try to conceal my exasperation when in volunteer meetings, since I need to horde my concealment abilities for work meetings. In my workplace suggesting the obvious answer too early leads to its rejection as impossible and then the meeting runs even longer as the risk to my eyeballs from the pen in my hand increases.
My elementary school experiences have been flooding back since DS7 & DD5 started school. While it hasn't been fun for me to relive those years, the memories - and consequences - are extremely motivating. Two degrees later I still don't know how to study/apply myself/learn from mistakes and I do not want my children following that path.
My K and grade 1 teachers pushed for a skip, but the principal refused. I spent elementary school acing the work with zero effort and then reading the books hidden in my desk. My report cards consisently said that I 'failed to work to my potential' - right beside the A's. No one except my parents saw the problem. They moved me to private school, which was somewhat better, but still involved hours staring out the window with no perceptible effect on grades. When I hit university and finally had to put in some effort, it was such a surprise that I gravitated to the fields I could easily do well in, instead of challenging myself, something I deeply regret.
I still think of myself as garden variety smart, in spite of testing results, and I already see DD5's self perception heading that way. We've been at private school from the outset, hoping to head off some of these problems, but it will take at least a skip for her to avoid Phoning It In Disorder.
